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7 Reasons You Should Read and Reread Your Manuscript In Progress
Victoria A. Witkewitz
6 April 2026
As you shift your focus from outlining to writing your manuscript, it's important to check how your writing is unfolding to prevent potential roadblocks in your novel and overall story. Think of this as car maintenance. Changing the oil and rotating the tires can extend the longevity of the car to keep it rolling. Let's look at seven reasons why you should pause to read your novel in progress.
7 Reasons to read your manuscript in progress
1.) Ensure the story makes sense. While this seems like a no-brainer, this can easily happen if you are plotting a complex novel with multiple storylines and characters. Additionally, sometimes when we write our outlines, the words and ideas don't easily translate to the actual writing portion.
2.) Check for flow and story pacing. Are things moving a little too slow? Are you throwing too many details at the reader causing their mind to spin? Creating balance in story pacing and flow is key to telling a great story.
3.) Uniformity. A balanced set of Critical Key Chapter Moments/plot points per chapter structures a process for the reader to comprehend the story without becoming bored. Creating a hook with effective chapter transitions is essential in achieving the page-turner effect. Check this by reviewing the length of the chapters. If chapter 3 is only 4 pages and chapter 5 is 15, then redistribute the storyline to add details to break up the intensity of one chapter versus the other to create a consistent reveal of noteworthy events for the reader.
4.) Check for loose ends. Remember how Harry lost his brother in chapter 3, but somehow never explains why? Ensure any points you introduce in your inciting incident are resolved by the end of the book, unless you are planning for a sequel. If writing a sequel, provide enough Critical Key Chapter Moments to keep the story moving to stand on its own before the next novel.
5.) Tone. The tone is particularly important when developing unique character details regarding personality and sensory details. Does Ryan seem unusually bold with much character emphasis in chapters 1-6, but suddenly loses steam in chapters 7-9? Unless your story calls for it, create consistent character profiles.
6.) Suspense and impact. For thrillers, mysteries, and horror genres in particular, suspense and impact are what readers are looking for. They want to solve the puzzle. Twists and turns are welcomed to leave your reader with a memorable impression. If your novel is lacking some of those "wow" moments, think of how you can spice up the story to create additional impact.
7.) Potential to minimize writer's block. Writing a novel can take months to years. Rereading your manuscript can help align your thoughts to the main idea rather than getting sidetracked. Focus on your main idea and central theme you want the reader to be able to understand and take away by the time they finish reading your story. I call this the Lightbulb Effect Questions.
How often should i reread my manuscript
This depends on where you are in the process. Personally, I write the first chapter and reread it immediately after I finish to establish a framework for where I'm headed. If I've built a solid foundation for setting the scene, introducing my characters, their roles, dynamics, and laying out my Critical Key Chapter Moments, I will continue to write. If not, I will identify with specific points where I need to rewrite and why until I "get it right."
I will reread the manuscript in its entirety after larger portions have been written, such as every 2 to 3 chapters until the end. This helps me continually check for story pacing, consistency, and errors. The refining process will eventually lead you to the story you want to tell.
If you have taken a break of more than a week away from your manuscript, rereading can help you refocus your thought process to springboard you back into writing.
Once you believe you have finished writing your novel, aim to read your manuscript in its entirety at least 4 to 5 times with breaks in between. This pause is critical to prevent tunnel vision and to determine if your initial writing remains the same or if you want to edit larger portions of the story before you get too far along.
FINAL PUNCTUATION
Reading and rereading your manuscript in progress is an essential process to refining your story. The more refining and fine-tuning you can do in the beginning, will establish a smooth transition as you progress through later chapters. With good pacing, story flow, and tying up the loose ends of the story, you will create the story you want to tell from start to finish.
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