A letter from an editor detailing what needs to change in your manuscript and why, serving as your roadmap for the next draft.
A revision letter (also called an editorial letter) is a detailed document from an editor that outlines the strengths and weaknesses of your manuscript and lays out specific changes they want you to make. These can range from big-picture structural notes to character arc problems to pacing concerns. In traditional publishing, you might receive one from an agent before submission, or from your acquiring editor after the book deal.
A good revision letter saves you months of wandering through a revision without direction. It gives you an experienced reader's honest assessment and a concrete plan of action. Learning to work with revision letters is a core professional skill for any novelist pursuing traditional publishing.
Sit with the letter for a few days before you touch the manuscript. Your first emotional reaction is rarely your best creative response. Read it once, walk away, then read it again with a pen and start making a plan.
A skilled editor identifies problems, but their suggested solutions are starting points, not commands. If they say 'cut this character,' the real note might be 'this character isn't earning their place in the story.' You can find your own fix.
If an editor flags something, there's a reason. You might solve it differently than they suggest, but dismissing the problem entirely usually means it shows up in reader reviews later. At minimum, investigate why the note exists.
Start with the biggest structural changes and work down to smaller ones. Fixing a plot hole in Act 2 might resolve three other notes automatically. Reorganize the letter by scope before you begin.
Write yourself a revision letter for your current project. Reread the last chapter you finished, then write a one-page letter addressing three things: one structural concern, one character issue, and one element that's working well. Be honest but constructive, the way you'd want an editor to be.