REVISE THE BOOK
One might think that the first draft is ready for publication, but it's really just the beginning. Think of a first draft like a pile of sand shoved into a sandbox: a big mound of shapeless words. Revision is taking those words and making it into a coherent story. Revision is a practice where you pick and choose the most appropriate words to convey your meaning. Revision is what we have to do as writers *BEFORE* we show work to anyone else.
Revision is, I believe, the hard part.
Many authors have their revision methods. Some can tackle all their to-do's in one or two passes, but I've learned over the years that I'm only able to tackle 1-2 problems with each pass. What this means? Multiple rounds over the same document. Yes, multiple, before I let my readers/agent read my work, and even more before I turn my work into my editor.
I chronicled my process while revising THE KEY TO HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
Revision is, I believe, the hard part.
Many authors have their revision methods. Some can tackle all their to-do's in one or two passes, but I've learned over the years that I'm only able to tackle 1-2 problems with each pass. What this means? Multiple rounds over the same document. Yes, multiple, before I let my readers/agent read my work, and even more before I turn my work into my editor.
I chronicled my process while revising THE KEY TO HAPPILY EVER AFTER.