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editing after first draft?
how long do I wait?
 IWSG monthly post |
I suppose I should say I leave my first draft for a long time to “mature” but truth to be told – at the moment I am so busy writing my MA dissertation, having a day job and other life that I write fast for the exact time I have blocked for writing that day, and edit while I go. I don’t have as much time for writing as I’d like at the moment, and so writing a story takes longer. I need to return to the “old” occasionally before continuing with the writing, to be sure I remember everything that has already happened (especially with Nephilim Quest that has many intertwining plot lines, characters, and historical events). And while I do that, I also edit. After the first draft is ready, I send it to a professional editor. Even if I self-publish, I want the book to be of professional quality. |
Right now I have Space Witches 3 already edited once, and need to do the suggested changes and do second edits before publishing it.
Nephilim Quest 4 is 2/3 written – and the appearance of a new character (or rather – the character was there in an earlier book, but is now growing a presence) may be the cause I need to write Nephilim Quest 5 as well. The story has grown to have a life of its own… I am also writing just for fun - to clear my head from all the ancient Egyptian details of my dissertation - the Magical Midlife Detectives. If you wish to see what a first draft looks like, you can follow me writing it here.
In September the dissertation is sent and I will finally (after two years) get more time for writing my novels. Maybe then I can do the editing in the traditional way – write the first draft ready fast, let it rest, do the first edits, let it rest, read-through and correct, send to editor, and then edit according to the advice I get. Usually this takes several rounds of editing, but I like working on my writing, to make the story the best it can be.
Are you a writer? How long do you wait before editing your first draft?
Do you have a great story about this? Share it!
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 Upon subscribing you will get the Prequel to Nephilim Quest: Angel. Over two hundred years before Nephilim Quest 1 / Shadowhunter the roots of the story are planted. A little girl missing her mother, in the palace of the mightiest of the dark Nephilim, hoping for an escape ... This book is not for sale anywhere - only readers who have subscribed to my mailing list will get it. | |||||
If you want to read more blog posts by IWSG writers, you can find them here.
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