I’m fairly certain people think I’m kidding when I tell them how horrible my first drafts are.
Let me assure you, I’m not kidding. I’m not even exaggerating.
I put the sloppy into sloppy copy, if you know what I mean.
In fact, I’ve told my husband that should I die, he is to delete all the rough drafts from my computer, lest anyone read them and realize I’m a total hack.
My first attempt at writing a story–any story–is never pretty.
I think this is true for the majority of authors.
When I sit down to draft a novel, the goal is to get the story out. You can’t edit a blank page, after all.
Even though I know this in my head. Even though EVERY novel I’ve ever written has started this way, it always freaks me out when I dive into editing mode. The more I read, the more my soul wants to curl into a ball of dread. Because oh. my. word. It’s a hot mess.
This is where I find myself right now. Freaking out in editing mode.
Thankfully, I have a husband and a best friend who remind me that I get this way with every book. And thankfully, I have a God who goes by the name Jehovah Jireh – the Lord will Provide.
Being in this place, while not exactly fun, is an exercise in surrender and trust. It’s one more way this writing journey brings me to my knees. Because on my own, the only thing I’m capable of producing is drivel.
So I pray for God to guide my pen, breathe life into my characters, and show me the heartbeat of the story, then walk in obedience until the novel is ready to send to my editor.
Some of you might be wondering what that walk of obedience looks like, in practical terms. What happens during the editing process?
First, I print out the sloppy mess. I buy a new pen. And I read through the draft as quickly as possible. The goal? Ignore the clunky prose and focus on story cohesion. This is the round where I make big changes. Delete entire chapters. Get rid of entire characters. That sort of thing.
Second, I sit in front of my computer and read the book out loud, this time focusing on my favorite part of the writing process–prettifying the prose. This is my happy place.
Third, I transfer the manuscript to my Kindle and read it through once more, making final changes.
Once I’m done, I send it off to my editor and wait for her to read it so we can begin the editing process all over again.
By the time the book is ready to hit bookstores, it bares little resemblance to that first sloppy copy.
Don’t believe me?
Maybe someday (far, far into the future, when I’m brave and daring) I’ll post some snippets of a rough draft as proof.
Let’s Talk: Whatever you do–what part of your job scares you the most? What part is your favorite?
Now I am by no means saying that my first drafts are good…. cause they’re not. But I much prefer the initial drafting process to editing. I’m not really sure why. Partly I think its because I’m very chronological and adding/taking away stuff in the middle of a story just kind of drives me crazy. It does help if I edit by reading through starting in chapter 1 and going all the way through to the end. I have to do that several times though.
I’m so glad you posted about your process. It’s so encouraging. I recently finished a VERY sloppy first draft and I feel like it’s such a mess. Thanks for giving me some hope. 🙂 I just got your most recent novel to review for The Christian Manifesto and I look forward to diving in!
The first draft revisions are the worst! My first drafts would probably give yours a challenge! It’s so overwhelming to make it cohesive and fix the plot holes and edit and cut and add. But once that’s done, it gets more fun!
Good luck!
Happy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
Your post was perfectly timed. I finished my first sloppy draft on the 25th and feel quite daunted by what comes next. Thanks for the honesty and the inspiration.
Your post today makes me feel a heck of a lot better about my WIP. I recently started writing my first novella and I’ll tell ya….it’s definitely a sloppy copy.
Even though I write very differently than the process you described, the first draft is the scariest part. For me the process consumes 8 months or longer, so I guess I’m scared most of the time. 🙂
I wish I could “dump” as you do, Katie. As an editor, I struggle with this, but am working on writing in a freer manner.
Love Love Love this post! So encouraging and so true. Also helpful in terms of practicality :)))
Thanks so much for your honesty. It was really encouraging for this fledgling writer. In the writing stage I keep looking at my book and thinking no one will ever read this…its pitiful. But I like how you say you just keep walking in obedience. Because if God has called me to it, I can’t ignore it. Thanks!
I think the hard part for me (not that I’ve written that many) is working on the prose, the line edits, because I feel like I could do it forever and not be completely happy. Eventually, I have to make myself stop. Have fun editing, hope you get to the happy place soon!
As I beginning writer, I(unpublished) I appreciate your honesty–sometimes I wonder–what makes you think you can do this? I am thankful to have a husband who is so good at figuring out my ‘hot mess’ and making it look and feel so much better. One of my current things I am working on, is not using caps to emphasize words, and not think I need to use explanation marks on everything… Also, using double dashes or dot, dot dot, contractions and the and sign. Too much time posting FB posts, and now needing to learn to write a ‘new lingo’. Such is the learning curve though, I guess. Thank goodness for the editing process! (Yes, I used it on purpose that time…)
Your post today, Katie, made me feel better about currently being in the sloppy copy writing part of my next book. Haha! I’m about 11 chapters in and on a tight deadline and the whole things feels like a mess right now. I keep trying to remind myself every book has felt this way so far (not that I’ve written that many) and that it’s all going to be okay. Have fun editing!
Mine’s the frist draft. That’s the part that’s so hard for me. I do understand the sloppy stuff, but I absolutely love the editing part, so in the end, I’ve given up and let my inner editor have her way. LOL I edit as I go. Sometimes, if I’m kind of stuck – the I’ll write past it. I do all caps and highlight WRD or type SHE DID SOMETHING. 🙂 But then my first draft is like most second ones. I wish I could pump one out faster, but fighting myself is not fun. :o\
You are so right, Ane. We can’t fight ourselves. Gotta find a process that works for us!
BTW, I wanted to let you know how encouraged and grateful I was when I saw the review you wrote for A Broken Kind of Beautiful! THANK YOU for not only taking the time to read, but to write a review as well!
As an artist, the scariest part is making the first mark on a piece of paper. The best part of my job is helping a client to visually interpret text.
As one who HAS your art in my home, I can say that it is LOVELY!