30: Draft 1 DONE! What next?
I sit here in Starbucks with nine fellow writers (and my biology-studying daughter), today’s Shut Up and Write cohort, planning out my next writing steps because I have successfully completed draft 1 of my most recent manuscript. Yesterday morning, while sitting in my favorite lounge chair with a cup of coffee steaming on one side and Sybil the cat curled on the other, I typed “The End,” a ceremonious addition to my word count. How do I feel about the completion of book 2 in my series? I’d say content yet concerned about next steps. I know what to do on a general basis; you can look the basics up on the internet or ask AI.
Let the draft rest.
Read through the draft, taking notes as you go.
Revise.
Gather beta readers.
Use the notes gathered from beta readers to revise things missed or suggestions you agree with.
Line edit.
Query.
I could also add hiring book editors; however, I am struggling to accrue funds for this step. Oh well. That leads me to the most confusing of the steps: step three. Revising is more than just one simple step. How many passes will it take before I am even a smidge happy with my project? I’ve read and heard from “experts” to make several passes through my manuscript, focusing each pass with one goal, be it tone, plot points, pacing, and so on. Cool, cool…how many passes? Which story structure points matter more than others? There are dozens of style passes I could take. Would more revision passes create a more sterile story?
I’ll take any helpful tips you’ve got.
For now, I will sit on Dreamweaver Book 2: The First Draft. Dreamweaver Book 1: The Sixth Draft is currently on vacation while I gather about $500 dollars to complete my developmental edit funds (yes, I have a freelance editor I already use and am dedicated to). I have two more books in the hopper that I could revisit. These two manuscripts, both written in the “aughts,” are geared towards a younger crowd.
On a separate note, if anyone has ideas on how to stop myself from clicking the space button twice after each period, I’d love it. Shock therapy is a no go.
