This is the stack of drafts leading up to the first draft I’ve almost completed. . .
I started writing a new novel in February of 2012. I planned to write a chapter a month; in fact, I wrote a chapter every two months until September of last year – until I started over again. For a little external pressure, I signed up for NaNoWriMo, and I had over 80,000 words on the page by the end of November 2012. They were good words, too. But they weren’t the right words, or they weren’t in the right order, and the story still wasn’t clear, so in December, I put that draft aside, too.
In January 2013, I started over again. Thanks to all the previous work I’d done on the book, I’d gained a much clearer idea of the story. Instead of spanning a lifetime, the story would take place over three years. And some of it would take place in a setting I had to make up, so I indulged in the singular pleasure of primary research, which involved delving into out-of-state archives. This research was not just great fun, but also a terrific way to keep refining the scope of my story and adding a subplot with meat on its bones.
In the spring, I started writing again. Now the story would take place in about twenty months – a much steeper arc, with more happening in that shorter time frame. Of course, I was able to plunder lots of material from the earlier drafts. I also filed away material that will no longer fit in this story for a possible sequel. Just because a character or scene doesn’t make it into one novel does not mean that the effort of words were wasted.
My goal for this year had been to finish a “sloppy copy” by the end of June and rewrite it twice by the end of the year. But I was struggling. I was writing well, but the story was stalled – until I attended an all-day writing workshop in June. There, I wrote a new opening for the novel. I’d finally found my way in.
I didn’t make my June thirtieth deadline, but I’m not too far behind. Here it is, the end of July, and I’m three hundred pages into the story, with about hundred more to go. My revised goal is to have this first draft completed before I leave for a week long vacation in September, so I can think about the story as I ride my bike along the Great Allegheny Passage.
In order to meet this deadline, I’m forging ahead heedlessly, inserting notes for scenes I can’t write yet, but know where they will have to fit in. I’m also highlighting and/or striking through passages I love but know won’t make the cut. I’m not quite ready to delete them; the strike-through helps me get used to the idea, so it will be easier to take them out later.
For now, I’m writing joyfully. I have a tight, eighteen-month timeframe, I have a general outline of what happens, and I’m discovering the details as I write.
Yes, I wish I wrote faster, and no, I don’t either. All the writing I’ve done around this story has helped me get to know my characters so well that I’ll be able to make them vivid to my readers without subjecting them to every childhood trauma. All this writing has also helped me find the book’s structure, the authorial voice, the historical details that will lend it verisimilitude and the backbone upon which the book will hang with firm musculature.
I still have a long way to go. “A first draft,” as a friend who’s won the National Book Award once told me, “is just notes to yourself.” Ah, yes. But what notes!
photo: M. Shafer
Deborah Lee Luskin lives in southern Vermont.
Reblogged this on Ozark Overture and commented:
This was great encouragement to me since I am at the beginning of a writing career and have been fretting about how often I rewrite and redo.
Much writing is really rewriting!
Thanks for your comment – Deborah.
Way to go! This is such an encouragement to me. I just realized that I want to write a novel from an idea that’s been floating around in my head for a month or so now. I’ve never done anything like this; in fact, other than blogging, which I started this year, this will be my biggest writing endeavor! I’ve been kind of putting it off because I feel I still have so much to learn about writing, but, as you demonstrated, you learn as you go. Its never going to be perfect the first time around, right? Thanks for sharing!
Shannon – True confessions: I’ve been taking notes for this novel since 1991, so one month doesn’t seem so long to me. And even though I’ve been writing for years and years, every day I learn something new. It’s one of many wonderful things about writing: it’s a life-long endeavor.
Good luck! -Deborah.
Thank you, Deborah!
I have a few of those first draft attempts saved in various files in my writing folder on my PC. I applaud you on approaching completion.
Thanks – and good luck to you! I bet you’ve got some gems in the rough in those files. – Deborah.
Perfect timing! In every sense of the word…thank you for sharing!
Glad you found this encouraging. Thanks for reading the blog – and Good Luck! -Deborah.
Fabulous for you ! Best Wishes
Thanks! -Deborah.
EXACTLY the same thing happened to me. I wrote an entire first draft. 94k words. No good. Then wrote another draft and dumped that after 160 pages. Now I am at 340 pages of a much better story with about 50 to go. It’s so good to no I’m not alone with this type of struggle. Your post was really wonderful for my head! i tweeted
Great to hear everything’s coming together for you on this project! Your work ethic and attitude are very inspiring for the aspiring novelist such as myself. Keep going!
A familiar face, the photo of the blog got my attention! Hello Debbie! Weepy Lisa here from Suzanne’s last get together in Petersborough…
Lisa, I can so relate to your tears! When I learned to think of mine as protection I became better at accepting them. I hope you are well and writing. Glad to find you here. All best, – Deborah.
I am so glad I read this. I have started 3 different stories over the years rewrote, deleted, lost some work, started over and now have something else in my head to start again. So I will keep on writing. I just started to blog and not sure how that is going. Not sure how to get people to read blog. I red other peoples work and think ” God! I will never be that good” But maybe I just need to write it down and get it done or me. Thanks again
Hi –
I don’t think we ever really “lose” work, even when we can’t find the files. It’s still inside us if we give it room to breathe. And the world needs all the writers there are – we each have stories to tell in our own way.
Yes, do keep on writing.
Thanks for your comments, Deborah.
This blog entry is music to my ears. I actually threw out my first novel after working on it for 5 years. Now I wrote a much better one in one year and watiing for the editing ok from bookbaby to e-publish it. I take my hat off to anyone taking on the challenge.
Congratulations on both throwing out one book and writing another!
Good luck! Deborah.
What’s great about this, is that you never give up. Determination is the key to success.
Wow! I thought I was disorganized having to constantly rewrite … Thank you for making me more confident!! 🙂
Interesting. I see my process as one of increasing organization, where I continually gain a clearer sense of my story and how to tell it. Disorganization is my starting point.
Glad you found the post helpful. Thanks for reading! Deborah.
That sounds familiar! Good luck on your writing! 🙂
Thanks for this post! I just found myself beginning a novel, something I never intended to do, but am really enjoying. It’s such a different experience than the screenwriting I am used to. While I’m searching for my own prose voice and writing workflow, it’s useful and encouraging to read others. Thanks again!
Thank you sharing your process. Very inspiring!
This was just the kick in the pants I needed. Got 4 beginnings written and about a hundred pages of which maybe fifty will make it. Thank you.