Here’s some excellent advice from Mike Nappa. While I’m not sure I’d say 4 and done, this is some practical advice that many writers need. Many times when I send a rejection, it’s because writers just query too early. And hey — if you remember my stories from the early Fireside Chats, I fell into that camp starting out too.
A book is definitely not finished in one draft, friends. I do get a little suspicious if I hear an author has only done 1 or 2 drafts. Honestly, there are so many nuances in fiction that need to be brought out — layers and textures, sensory details and sometimes spiritual threads… metaphors, and etc. So much gold to be mined in our stories and in us.
My experience was 11 drafts for my first novel and 7 drafts for my second one. I was doing a lot of learning during my first novel, however.
Writing my second novel felt a little bit like muscle memory at the time, which was such a relief.
HOWEVER, I hardly want to tell you what number of drafts I’m on with my third novel. Truth is, I’ve lost count. It’s saved as *cough* (novel title) 18.
Perhaps I don’t have quit in me, and perhaps if I would have heeded Mike’s advice, I’d be onto another project by now (I actually do have another project going – tee-hee). But hey — I’m here for it and I want to see every book through.
Also, I have to give myself some grace on book 3. I went through 5 of the worst years of my life during the writing of that one. Sometimes it was hard to think. After my dad passed away, I worried if I’d lost my ability to write. There were long spells when I couldn’t. But, I’ll save those tales for another time.
I’m a fan of giving ourselves grace. Us writer types are often too hard on ourselves anyway. But, perhaps we can take Mike’s wise no bull crap words into account too.
So tell me: How many drafts do you have currently? How many drafts did you do on a novel before it was traditionally published? How many drafts before you self published?
Inquiring minds want to know. 🙂