It’s true. Real writing is about rewriting and revising. So that’s what I did all day yesterday. Going back and fixing that wrong scene that then impacted all that followed. I have about five more pages to tinker with this morning, and then I will be on to the new stuff. I need a whole lot more new stuff in the coming weeks so that I can do lots more revising and rewriting.
Some authors write quick first drafts, then edit/revise/rewrite several more drafts before they are considered done. One author I know does at least 7 or 8 drafts, each time adding another layer to the book. Others (I fall in this group) do a kind of continual revise and rewrite routine throughout the creation of a book. When we’re done, we’ll do a final polish, but basically the book is done in that "first draft." However, that first draft has probably been revised and rewritten numerous times. We just aren’t conscious of how many.
Tonight I’m doing a Q&A session at the Christian Writers of Idaho meeting. Oh, goodness! This is American Idol night. How did I allow myself to get booked on a Tuesday night? What was I thinking? Time to set my recorder. Priorities, you know.
-rlh-
