djs_specs asked me to take a pass at this since I just started submitting my second novel to agents a couple of weeks back. Not sure how useful you'll find the suggestions, but, here goes.
1). Find two or three people who are willing to read your novel and provide you with their honest opinions about it. This is not the time to get someone who will spare your feelings. If you don't know anyone, your best bet is probably http://www.critters.org/ (http://www.critters.org/). They expect you to pay by doing some critiquing, but them's the breaks. 2). Give yourself some time to get some distance. It takes about a month to get through the queue at Critters, so that should be about right. 3). Once you have read the critiques you get, sit down with a copy of them handy and read the novel with them in hand. Note which ones you agree with, which ones you disagree with, and which ones are mistakes caused by places where your writing is unclear. 4). Once you've finished your read through, make a list of changes that need to be made. Give them at least a week or two to stew in your brain. 5). Go through your novel and make your changes. It may take more than one pass. 6). If possible, get the people who critiqued you before to look at it again. 7). Rinse, repeat as necessary.
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Date: 2007-03-15 01:44 am (UTC)1). Find two or three people who are willing to read your novel and provide you with their honest opinions about it. This is not the time to get someone who will spare your feelings. If you don't know anyone, your best bet is probably http://www.critters.org/ (http://www.critters.org/). They expect you to pay by doing some critiquing, but them's the breaks.
2). Give yourself some time to get some distance. It takes about a month to get through the queue at Critters, so that should be about right.
3). Once you have read the critiques you get, sit down with a copy of them handy and read the novel with them in hand. Note which ones you agree with, which ones you disagree with, and which ones are mistakes caused by places where your writing is unclear.
4). Once you've finished your read through, make a list of changes that need to be made. Give them at least a week or two to stew in your brain.
5). Go through your novel and make your changes. It may take more than one pass.
6). If possible, get the people who critiqued you before to look at it again.
7). Rinse, repeat as necessary.
Hope this helps.