The writing process.

I want to start with a confession. It’s one I don’t want to admit too, given we are now more than half way through the year. Ok here goes…..I haven’t set up any social media accounts yet and I’ve done nothing to promote this blog. There I’ve said it. Despite all my posts and advice on why this is a necessary part of the process,  I’ve not been able to take that crucial first step. I can make all the excuses I want and believe me I have, but it’s fear holding me back. In a world where millions of people are creating content, I’m scared of exposing myself and everyone pointing fingers and laughing at me, because of course all eyes are going to be on me right!

Honestly I just need to get myself into gear and take the first step. So this is a promise to myself. This week I’m going to start setting up my social media accounts. One step at a very slow time. If you also struggled with this and conquered your fear, I’d love to know how you got over the first hurdle.

Now back to business.  How’s the writing process going? Whether you are working on the first draft or the tenth, it’s an interesting and vital process and one that could go on and on. When writing, you will be going through these different stages;

• Revision

• Redrafting

• Rewriting

• Editing

Revision

You will be doing this from the moment you write your first sentence, before your first draft is completed and up until your manuscript is ready for submission.  Revision is whenever you tweak and delete typos, words, phrases, sentences and facts as you write. It’s a  micro-level process that comes naturally as a result of reading and re-reading your work.

Redrafting

This is when you’ve written your first draft and are now on the second draft and beyond. Redrafting is when you look at the big picture to see what works, where there is tension or isn’t, whether the pacing feels off, what needs to go and whether you need to introduce any new characters or remove any for that matter. This when you make sure your story follows the five global commandments, see Creative conundrum to remind yourself of what these are if you need a recap. This is a much more complicated process because often we are too close to our work to see clearly, so if you are struggling it’s a good idea to leave your manuscript alone for a while and come back to it with fresh eyes.

Rewriting

This does what it says on the tin. With most likely great reluctance, this when you realise that the story doesn’t work, or that you’ve come at your story from the wrong angle and with tears in your eyes, you know you have to start again. Knowing you have to rewrite your manuscript that you have spent years working on is an emotional and mental challenge, like playing a five set tennis match and losing, but in the end it could be the thing that saves your manuscript and dreams.

Editing

There are different types of editing, some of which I’ve touched upon my previous post Editorial feedback.

• Developmental editing; Like redrafting you manuscript, this is editing on a macro-level when you or a professional editor looks at the big picture; any holes in the plot, character development and the narrative arc. Personally I shared my first draft with the Book Edit for a development edit and then following their detailed direction, have started to rework my manuscript. I would recommend this approach to all first-time writers.

• Copy editing; This is editing on a micro-level, going line by line looking at grammar and making sure the story is consistent.

• Proof reading; This is the final stage of the process, making sure any punctuation, spelling and formatting errors are smoothed out.

I think in terms of where I am right now I’m doing a mix of rewriting and redrafting. I’m currently redrafting entire chapters by removing large chunks of text which don’t work based on feedback I received in Editorial Feedback and tweaking and updating the remaining text to really tighten up the pace and tension. I am also rewriting everything so it is in the present tense rather than past and just by doing this, I can already feel a lift in my story, pace and tension. Surprisingly even I, as the author am feeling more connected to what is happening whereas before looking at things in the past tense gave me too much of a safe distance from it, whereas now I’m in it and experiencing events as I write and my story is much better for it.

I would love to know where you currently are in the process, what is working and what isn’t for you? Its exciting stuff like carving a statue out of stone. At first its just a block of granite but as you can see things take form and shape and start to become what it’s meant to be, that’s where the excitement lies so keep going, you’re doing amazing.

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