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Revise a story draft with clear instructions

Write focused revision instructions that help Nookly improve a story without starting over.

Written by Radwa Hamed

A strong revision instruction explains what should change and what should stay. Use Revise draft when the story’s general direction works but the tone, setting, supporting character, reading level, or ending needs a broader adjustment.


Open Revise draft

  1. Open the story’s draft-review page.

  2. Select Write a fresh version.

  3. Keep Revise draft selected.

  4. Enter the instruction in the text box.

  5. Select Create draft.

Open the Revise draft field


What to include in a useful revision instruction

Use this simple pattern:

Keep [what works]. Change [what should be different]. Make sure [important constraint].

For example:

  • “Keep the tiny library and brave-reading theme. Replace the mouse with Maya’s dog. Make sure the dog appears consistently after page 5.”

  • “Keep the same plot. Use shorter sentences and one clear action per page for a prereader.”

  • “Keep the first-day-of-school setting. Make the teacher reassuring without promising that nothing difficult will happen.”

Enter a clear story revision instruction


Be specific about the kind of change

Character

Name the character to add, remove, or replace and describe their role in the story.

Setting

Say which scenes should move and where. Avoid asking for a completely different setting if you want the rest of the plot preserved.

Tone

Use concrete direction such as playful, reassuring, practical, adventurous, or gentle. Avoid vague instructions such as “make it better.”

Reading level

Ask for shorter sentences, simpler vocabulary, more dialogue, or more descriptive detail. Review the result rather than assuming the instruction created the right level.

Ending

Explain the emotional or practical endpoint without demanding a guaranteed outcome. For example, ask for the child to practice asking for help—not to “never feel nervous again.”

Describe the story change to make


When to edit a page instead

Use direct page editing when you need to correct a name, replace one phrase, adjust a single action, or fix the order of two pages. A whole-draft revision may introduce unnecessary changes.

Edit an individual story page


Review the revised draft

  • Confirm the requested change appears throughout the story.

  • Look for new inconsistencies introduced by the revision.

  • Check names, pronouns, tone, age fit, and private information.

  • Edit individual pages before continuing to illustration.

Review the revised story draft

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