Start Writing Your Book Today: A Step-by-Step Plan to Write Your Nonfiction Book, From First Draft to Finished Manuscript

Author:Morgan Gist MacDonald [MacDonald, Morgan Gist]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Paper Raven Books
Published: 2015-05-31T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

Beyond the first draft

I would love to tell you that after writing the first draft, the hardest part is over. I’m sorry, but getting through the first draft is easy compared to what’s to follow. Writing the first draft is a beautiful time because you have so many fresh ideas, bursts of creative insights, and ah-ha moments. And you’re not editing, just writing straight through.

Now, it’s time to revise. This is when the writer turns into an author. This is when the hobbyist turns into a professional. If you can revise a draft, you are in exceptional company. It doesn’t take any special talent to revise a draft—just a nearly inhuman amount of patience and persistence. This is your book, though, and it’s worth every ounce of determination you have in order to make it the best book it can be.

Those demons that reared their ugly heads while you were writing your first draft? You may have hushed them up long enough to finish the draft, but they’ll be back stronger than ever as you enter the revision phase. You’ll read back over what you’ve written and feel a whole new slew of negative thoughts rise up: “How could I think this is good?” “It doesn’t even make sense!” “What was I thinking?” “I don’t have a clue how to organize all of this crap.” Or, even worse: “Meh, I don’t feel like revising. This is good enough as is.”

When you hear the reverberation of negative thoughts in your head, don’t panic. Just return to the chapter on preventing self-sabotage and refresh your spirit. Talk to yourself on a daily basis about why this book is important to you and to the reader. When you can’t muster the strength to revise, free-write about the resistance you’re feeling. Lean on your accountability partner. Know that the resistance will always be there, but maintain your commitment to press on.

Steel yourself. Know that you’re not alone. This chapter is here to guide you step-by-step through the revision process in a simple, straightforward, logical way that will help you edit with confidence, knowing that you’re revising the sections that are weakest and strengthening the sections that are already powerful and clear.

I recommend that you do not start with page 1 and read through the whole draft all over again, trying to edit as you go. You’ll be completely discouraged by page 10, confused by page 45, and you’ll have stopped caring by page 70.

Instead, I suggest following a revision process, which will look something like this:

Initial read-through and reverse outline (2–4 days)

First revision (1 week)

Send to editor (2–3 weeks)*

Second revision (1 week)

Send to beta readers (2–3 weeks)**

Third revision (1–2 days)

Proofread (1–2 days)

Read aloud (1–2 days)

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