by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
I think when writers ask how many drafts
another writer completes for a finished story, they’re really wondering whether
they’re spending too much time editing or too little time editing.
another writer completes for a finished story, they’re really wondering whether
they’re spending too much time editing or too little time editing.
That’s what happens when you work
alone—you have no basis of comparison.
alone—you have no basis of comparison.
I got this question emailed to me
recently and I had to really think about it.
What comprises a draft to me? In
general, how many times do I go through the manuscript before I send it to my
editor?
recently and I had to really think about it.
What comprises a draft to me? In
general, how many times do I go through the manuscript before I send it to my
editor?
I definitely keep going through it if I
keep finding mistakes. Obviously, if you
think it’s not a clean document, you want to keep working on it. And I continue reading through the manuscript
if I feel I could have used better diction or if I think of other ways to
improve the story. But there does get to
be a point where a writer is making changes just for the sake of making
changes. You can write the life out of
your story and when it’s tough to say if a change makes the story better or
worse…it’s probably time to either put it aside for a while or send it out on
submission.
keep finding mistakes. Obviously, if you
think it’s not a clean document, you want to keep working on it. And I continue reading through the manuscript
if I feel I could have used better diction or if I think of other ways to
improve the story. But there does get to
be a point where a writer is making changes just for the sake of making
changes. You can write the life out of
your story and when it’s tough to say if a change makes the story better or
worse…it’s probably time to either put it aside for a while or send it out on
submission.
What comprises a draft? To me, it’s a new version of the manuscript
with significant changes. A draft is
something, to me, that would make me want to send an updated copy to my editor or
beta reader (“No, read this one,
actually. Not the one I sent you.”)
with significant changes. A draft is
something, to me, that would make me want to send an updated copy to my editor or
beta reader (“No, read this one,
actually. Not the one I sent you.”)
I’d say that I have probably four or five
drafts of a story before I turn it in.
That’s mainly because I write in layers and the second draft is where I
put in the book’s character and setting description and the third is where I
stick in chapter breaks. Then I have another couple of read-throughs for
errors, pacing, continuity, etc.
drafts of a story before I turn it in.
That’s mainly because I write in layers and the second draft is where I
put in the book’s character and setting description and the third is where I
stick in chapter breaks. Then I have another couple of read-throughs for
errors, pacing, continuity, etc.
You can also approach it a different
way—a bunch of targeted mini-drafts.
This could take more read-throughs, but each time you’d be looking for
specific things: weak scenes, conflict/tension, description that pops,
out-of-sequence storyline, grammar, etc.
way—a bunch of targeted mini-drafts.
This could take more read-throughs, but each time you’d be looking for
specific things: weak scenes, conflict/tension, description that pops,
out-of-sequence storyline, grammar, etc.
After I’m done, I’ll email the story to my editor. Months later, there will be more
editing. Then it goes to the
proofreader…and even more editing ensues.
editing. Then it goes to the
proofreader…and even more editing ensues.
How many drafts do you usually go through
on a manuscript? How do you know when
it’s ready?
on a manuscript? How do you know when
it’s ready?
Image: MorgueFile: jppi
I usually set a deadline — after which I stop messing with it. It’s the only way to really be “done.” Especially if you write in layers like I do.
Actually, here’s a post of my rewriting process, if you don’t mind my mentioning it here:
http://daringnovelist.blogspot.com/2011/12/look-back-at-book-and-rewriting-issue.html
At the moment, I only have one draft complete enough to have sent out. That one took two drafts and twelve edits.
And I’ve done five rounds of edits/revisions since my editor took on the book.
So yeah, I think if you’re wondering if your book’s ready to be sent out, it’s probably not. That’s the rule of thumb I’m working to at the moment, anyway. :-)
Elizabeth – I think drafting is one of those very individual kinds of things. That is, every author does it a little differently. I like your way of seeing drafts as a sort of cycling back a few times through the basic skeleton of your story as you add in characters, atmosphere and so on. That way you keep the main focus of the story. As for me, I start with a draft that just tells the story – a ‘fleshed out’ outline. Then I go back and add in where it’s too ‘bare bones.’ Then I go back through and fix up mistakes (wrong character names, inconsistencies, etc..). Then there’s the editing *sigh.*
I have found it impossible to stop thinking of my first novel, and cannot read it now it’s ‘done.’ I know I’ll want to tweak it eternally, and that’s no good for it, or for me. Like you I add layers throughout my drafts, but because I read slowly, each one takes so long. But it’s worth the effort. One just needs to know when the effort has paid off and to move on. :)
I feel like I’m finally (FINALLY!) getting a real handle on taking apart a draft and reworking it so I don’t know the answer yet, but it’s definitely more than 3! :)
A really good question, how many drafts. I like your definition of significant changes.
I nit pick too much until I’m crazy–er.
Camille–Thanks for the link! And I think that’s a great plan…set a deadline to stop messing with the thing.
Misha–Good point. If you’re *wondering* if it’s ready, it’s likely not ready.
It’s a very definition-dependent thing, isn’t it? Is it a draft after you’ve changed a comma placement or a chapter placement?
I don’t look at it in terms of first draft, second draft, etc. For me, it’s a rough, a line edit, a complete-work edit, and an edit after beta readers are done with it. After that, it goes out. If you call the results of each step a draft, I guess that makes four drafts. And done is done. Continuing to tweak a manuscript takes away from the next one.
I think I go through a lot more than that, although I don’t look for specific items each round.
I stop editing when I realize I’m changing things back to the way they were in the first draft.
With the Locked Within books, I did a first draft, passed the manuscript over to my betas, then did edits based on their feedback. That second draft was what I would send to my publisher.
Granted, with the first one, it ended up having 50 pages cut from the start and I had to do a full re-write on the second before my publisher would accept it, so… :-p
I don’t think I’ve ever counted. Dozens. After entering my manuscript into my computer, I’ll print it out and make several passes. Then I enter the corrections and print it out again. I go through that process at least five times.
I’m on my fourth — still finding things I can improve. It’s not done till a writer feels it’s done. I’d hazard that most mss get emailed to editors too soon!!
I “loop” as I write, going back over the previous day’s work as a springboard to fresh writing, and sometimes looping back farther. When I’m finished with that draft, I walk away from it for a month or two and then return to revise for logic (vital in mystery), characterization, description, dialogue, etc. So I guess I have one draft and 6-8 revision/editing passes.
I’m writing my first novel right now, so I’m still trying to figure this part out. I’m on my third draft right now. The first one I tried to get as much of it out as I could and identify the key plot points. The second draft I filled it out and corrected things I already knew were major issues, and then shared pieces of this draft with my writing group. Who helped me find more major issues. I took a step back and outlined some re-plotting to address those issues, and now I’m on draft three.
But each time I can see myself making major steps toward something truly presentable, so I think this is the last major re-drafting. From here I’ll turn back to my writer’s group and some beta readers and hope to go through 2-4 revision reviews.
I usually have 3-4 drafts. Like you, Elizabeth I only consider it a new draft if I make major changes. I read through it several times before doing a printout. The printout allows me to read through the entire document without the temptation to edit while I’m reading.
Hi Elizabeth .. I like your description of layering your draft up each time .. putting the filling in, adding more veggies to the meat, then the final spicing it up a little and making sure the food tones in and tastes good ..
Novel to a tee .. cheers Hilary
Three. First draft, clean things up draft, and proofreading.
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