I am a planner. My plans of back plans, and there are back up plans for my back up plans. It is just part of who I am.
So, of course I have a drafting and revision plan for my latest WIP - Three of Ivory (TOI). Since this is only my second novel, I am still finding a process that works for me. I felt like my drafting and revision plan for Shadowed Stones (SS) was a little to... undefined. With TOI I am trying something different.
Here is my plan:
1. First Draft
a. Write 2 pages every week day
b. Every three chapters do a high level edit and fill in any details I skipped over.
c. When finished: Once over of entire manuscript.
2. Second Draft
a. Turn it over to my critique partners - or alpha readers.
b. Incorporate any necessary changes.
c. When all critiques are in: Once over of entire manuscript.
3. Third Draft
a. Turn it over to my beta readers.
b. Incorporate any necessary changes.
c. When all critiques are in: Once over of entire manuscript.
Done.
So, this is my plan to have TOI done in three drafts. I may add another draft either between the second and third, or after the third we will see how it goes. I am also considering having my critique group look at my first draft before I have finished writing the whole thing. It depends on how I am feeling about the first draft - and how long it takes them to finish SS.
Do you have a drafting and revision process? Or do you think I am just going over the top with the whole planning thing?
that doesn't seem over the top at all!
ReplyDeleteI really like your idea of doing an edit every 3 chapters during the first draft. I might steal this idea since my inner editor is constantly trying to break free
It's not over the top at all. It's smart to have a plan. I hang on loosely to a plan, but I don't always have enough time and a new idea or revision might make me go off into another direction.
ReplyDeleteI agree, your plan sounds great! Whenever I try to have a nice revision and drafting plan, each draft turns out sucking worse than I thought it would have, and I realize I need to add more drafts to the plan. Someone needs to lower their expectations. . . (That would be me.) ;) Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWhat matters most is that your plan will works and every will be happy along with it right? Well, good luck and have a wonderful day ahead.
ReplyDelete