Drafting

I think drafting is one of those processes we have to make our own, often through trial and error. There are a few of those when you’re a writer: whether to outline or not, how to develop characters, and whether you edit afterward or as you go. There are never any right or wrong answers, only what works best for you.

I had a writer reach out to me, asking what my drafting process is. I think sometimes we want to just get a little validation that our approach is a good one. This writer asked how many drafts I usually have before I declare my project done.

That answer has changed through the years as my process has become more cemented. When I was starting out in the early 2000s, I would change a completed manuscript numerous times, trying to get it the way I wanted it. This led, eventually, to knowing what I wanted from a manuscript before I started.

For me anyway, stumbling through multiple drafts helped me work out some plot details before starting the book. This led to mini-outlines, which helped me determine what I was going to write the next day.

This led to my developing a full outline at the start of the project. Which led to fewer drafts altogether.

So now, I basically go through three drafts with 3 total passes through the whole book. The first draft is me getting it all down on paper from start to finish. The second draft is often where I have to add in non-mystery-related elements (often descriptions of people and settings). The third draft is where I fix mechanical and consistency issues and add chapter breaks.

After that, the manuscript goes to my editor and beta readers. There will be more changes to the manuscript after that, of course. Then I’m done.

But I’m interested in hearing what your process is and how it’s been honed through the years. What does your drafting look like?