Red Light, Green Light: How the Stoplight Method Will Revolutionize Your Editing Process
How to Rank Your Story’s Problems After a Read-Through: Using Red, Yellow, and Green
So, you’ve done your first draft, taken a breath, and dived into a read-through of your manuscript. You’ve jotted down problems along the way—some big, some small, some you’re not even sure how to fix yet. It’s overwhelming, right? This is where ranking your story’s issues comes in. By categorizing each problem using a traffic light system—Red, Yellow, and Green—you’ll create a clear path forward. Let’s walk through how to rank them, so you can tackle revisions one step at a time.
Step 1: Identify the Problems During Your Read-Through
Before you can rank your story’s problems, you need to get them all out in front of you. During your read-through, resist the urge to edit as you go. Instead, take notes on the problems you encounter. Write them down in a separate document, noting what the issue is and where it’s located.
These could be anything from a plot hole, weak character motivation, or awkward pacing, to smaller issues like awkward sentences or spelling mistakes. Once you’ve completed the read-through, you’ll likely have a lengthy list of things to fix. Don’t panic! Ranking them will help you prioritize.
Step 2: Red, Yellow, Green—A Traffic Light System for Your Problems
Once you have your list of problems, it’s time to categorize them using a color-coding system. Think of it like a traffic light:
Red: These are your major issues—the big-picture problems that will make or break your story if they aren’t addressed. Your first edit is going to focus only on the Red Light issues. Examples of Red light issues are:
Plot holes.
Incomplete or unsatisfying character arcs especially if they don’t align with your main theme.
A protagonist who doesn’t have a desire or there is nothing in their way aka no conflict or a weak conflict
The plot does not follow cause and effect. One thing does not cause the next. There are illogical jumps that the reader struggles to follow.
World-building that is not logical or it breaks it’s own rules,
There is no point or there are too many themes so none of them shine through.
A problem is a red light issue if your story will fall apart because of them.
Yellow: These issues are significant but not quite as critical as Red problems. They’re still impactful, but they might not derail your story entirely. Examples of Yellow light issues are:
Pacing issues such as too much narration
Secondary characters that feel underdeveloped
A subplot that feels disconnected
Show don’t tell
POV Character’s emotions are not on the page
There is a gap in the passage of time
Dialogue that doesn’t move the story forward
Green: These are the minor issues—problems that are noticeable but won’t have a huge effect on the overall narrative. Examples are:
Typos,
Awkward sentences
Minor inconsistencies.
Using too many adverbs
These are the final polish, the things you deal with at the end to make your manuscript shine.
Step 3: Ranking Your Problems
Now that you’ve color-coded your list of problems, the next step is to rank them within each category. Here’s how you do it:
Red Problems: Start with the Reds because these will have the most impact on your story. Rank them by asking yourself:
What’s most essential to the story's success?
Which issue, if fixed, will make the biggest difference?
For example, if your protagonist’s motivation is unclear or your plot has a major hole, those will likely be at the top of your Red list. Make sure you address these first before worrying about anything else.
I recommend your second draft focuses on your Red light issues only. That is how important the Red light issues are compared to the Yellow and Green.
Yellow Problems: Once you’ve tackled the Reds, move on to the Yellows. Rank these based on their overall effect on the flow and readability of the story.
Decide which Yellow issues impact the reading experience the most and work on those next.
Green Problems: These come last. They’re the details you’ll handle during the final stages of editing. While these are important for a polished manuscript, they’re not worth stressing over until your Red and Yellow issues are fixed. Save these for when the bigger picture elements are solidified.
Step 4: Take It One Step at a Time
Now that your problems are ranked, it’s time to work through them systematically. Focus on one problem at a time, starting with your highest-priority Reds. You’ll likely find that fixing a Red problem has a ripple effect, making some Yellow and Green problems easier to tackle or even resolving them entirely.
The key is to break down the revision process into manageable chunks. This way, you’re not trying to fix everything at once, because everything at once leads to overwhelm and burn out. By following this color-coded system, you’ll be able to approach your revisions with a clear plan.
Final Thoughts
Revisions can be intimidating, but using a system like the Red, Yellow, Green traffic light method helps turn a messy list of problems into an actionable, step-by-step process. By focusing on your biggest issues first, you’ll make the most impact on your story and avoid wasting time on minor problems before the big ones are fixed.
Remember, editing is not about perfection in one go—it’s about progress. You will not catch every problem on the first edit. Take your time, trust the process, and your manuscript will come out stronger on the other side.
Happy editing!
