Reading the first draft.
In my last blog, I briefly discussed what it takes to write a first draft. Endlessly finding words and bending sentences, weaving the story together.
After that long, draining process, I tend to leave the book alone for a little while. Not looking at it for a whole month. Trying not to think about the book. Perhaps even forgetting the story that I have written. Just so that when I start reading my book, I will look at it through a reader’s eyes. Discovering the story for a second time.
In order to truly look at it with different eyes, I print out my book. Nothing fancy, just on A4 paper, straight out of the printer. Put together in one of those flimsy plastic folders. So I have a physical copy of the book in my hands. Then, I start reading.
When I do this, I tend to have a pen at hand, scratching out parts of the book that were too long or draining. Splitting chapters when needed. Writing down the questions I had while reading them, parts of the story that I did not understand yet. Writing down new ideas that I would like to add. Even ideas for upcoming stories!
Whatever I do, I do not edit. This pass is just experiencing the story. Seeing what it has to offer. This normally takes me about a month to do. Taking my time with it. Only when I have read the last line of the draft will I start the editing process. One that I am currently in the middle of…
This is something I have done with my first book, and now I am also doing it with my second. Though I am still searching for the best way to go about it. Because once I turn the last page of the book, I rarely go back to look at the notes that I have made. Endless pages of questions and soon-to-be edits, that I never actually look at.
I do think there is an importance in reading your work in a different format. To hold it in your hands. Yet I am not sure where in the process that should be. Some part of me thinks that perhaps, after only a first draft is a little too soon. With my upcoming books, I will try out where in the process it would fit better. Perhaps simply reading it without making any marks would be the way to go about it. Things I am excited to test out.
For now, I will spend countless hours editing my second book. The first round of edits has been done, and now the second one will begin. Perfecting it until it tells the story I want it to tell. Something that takes time. Sometimes, a little more time than expected. It will take a little bit longer to publish this book than I had first hoped. But it is on its way, and it will be better than Poveglia’s Plague Doctor! It’s going to be worth the wait!
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