Thread: After the draft

So, I wrote a whole novel. I sat down one night to do a writing exercise, and an idea came to me. I fleshed it out over a few days. And now (about 2 months later) I have around 95,000 words, a plot, and everything. That happened a little faster than I expected. It's only a draft, but it's there.

What's the process from draft? Revising it some more? And then again? My revisions are more like rewrites, than fine tuning.

I'm a perfectionist, so you see where this is going? How do you know when to stop? At what stage is it submitted to an agent? I'm assuming it will have more editing after that point also?

Clue me in - I've got a draft. Now what?

So far I've thought:
a. light it on fire and start over
b. keep the bones and cut the fat
c. light it on fire and start over
d. rewrite it to be more compelling & concise
e. light it on fire and start over
f. tell my mom i wrote a novel and get a hug
g. light it on fire and start over

Why do artists always think they suck? What the heck is wrong with us? I've read a bunch of your posts and can tell I'm in like company. Hooray!

And since my draft is in my computer, I can't light it on fire. So I keep editing it...slooooooowly. Help.

I wish there was some easy answer, some routine or such. But it's just wading through the crap to dig out the gems. I have spent more time editing than I have writing. Now I'm to the point where I'm ready to throw the computer against the wall so I figure it's just time to re-write.

So good luck and Kudos with your first novel. I hope you persevere and get it all nice and shiny.

Originally Posted by Kat

I spent more time editing than I have writing.

Yup. I'm noticing it that, too. Its taking me about 5x as long to edit the chapters as it took to write them. And that doesnt count the editing I did to the original draft as I was writing it.

Thanks for the feedback. I was wondering if anyone had a set process after draft? A typical number of revisions? Edits? And when are the best times to have folks read it? While its in revision or at the very end?

I know there is no set path, just wondering what process the rest of you do?

Put it in a drawer for a month without looking at it.
Meanwhile start something else.
Come back and take a look, see what you think.

Don't burn it. In the past year I've completed and/or sold work from twenty to forty years ago.

I haven't gotten to the editing process since I haven't finished writing yet but I can give you an example that one of my friends does and she has self published 4 novels already. She only edits twice. After the first editing session, she lets other people read it. Then, after that and suggestions, she will edit it one more time.

Now another friend of mine she is on her 6th edit of her novel (I personally think that is too many times to edit). I think 2-3 times is enough because if you keep editing and editing you will never submit to anyone. Also eventually you will basically be rewriting your whole novel and that wasn't the point in the first place.

Like you mention, there is no set path on how to do this, but I think you should send your first edited draft out to readers and then edit it again after you've had them read it. Also, word of advice send it to people that are not friends and family because you want real critiques. Most family members and friends will tell you your writing is great even though it could be terrible. Also you want readers to tell if you there are any problems with the work: grammatical, word choice, etc.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

I'm laughing at a) what you had so far, Calli....I wanted to light mine on a fire a hundred times.....I have edited my book so many times I have lost count...I get so frustrated, like you I am a perfectionist...I will spend thirty minutes on just one word, it is so bad.... Lord knows (I tell Him enough)I have retired from writing many times but then it always comes knocking at my door and I take up where I left off...right now I am retired but the itch has started again....

thanks for the info and suggestions! i really appreciate it. im flying by the seat of my pants.

i just told my friends and family that i wrote it. i still havent told my mom yet.

i gotta post the paragraph/ summary that is going into the query soon, and get help with that from you guys. i was hoping to have this ready to send off in 3 months or so. i wanted to let it sit for a while too. good stuff. thanks peeps!

Hey Callalily, great job on finishing your novel. lin, above, said sit on it for a while, and I think that's some great practical advice. In Stephen King's On Writing, he says exactly the same thing; put it in a drawer for a month of two and go occupy your mind with a different project. When you come back to it you'll have a fresher take and will more readily spot plot-holes and/or other issues. And if it's quoting Stephen King hour, I may as well say that he says edit till the cows come home. It's probably not a bad idea to edit till the cows are dead.

Before you send it off have someone else read it. Someone else will be able to point out things that you didn't notice or think of. You want it clean and as error free as possible before submitting it. You know what they say- You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

I will add that one's mother is often not the best person to be a reader. I know that my own mom would hesitate to tell me that it is just crap and that I need to scrap the whole thing. Find someone you trust to be brutally honest.

Originally Posted by Kat

I will add that one's mother is often not the best person to be a reader...Find someone you trust to be brutally honest.

K. i was kidding about my mom. she is the one who is brutally honest. why do you think i'm damaged? lol. nah, i know i need to show it to a few people who arent friends or family. i was going to do that after this revision. that should give me a break from it for a while too.