Writing a Book – Step 2 – First Revision
In Value of a Daily Writing Habit I described the first step of writing a book, set a goal and write daily. I wrote 1,000 words a day for eight weeks. When I completed a manuscript of 57,600 words, I felt like a sculpturer with the raw shape of my work before me.
In the past three weeks, I read and edited this first draft. I’ve changed the title four times, rewrote the beginning, and added an ending. The process of revision was similar to the writing.
I got up five days a week near 5 a.m. by 7 a.m. I was reading, making corrections, deleting, and making additions. This is the part of writing I enjoy, especially when I feel my words tell an interesting story and share information of value and benefit.
As a voracious reader, I have a critical eye and compare my work with what I read. I feel this book will stand on its own and I will build an audience for it. I’m trusting you will be one of those early readers.
Skywalker Storyteller Works 
I look forward to reading your creation! I’m furiously working on my own sculpture of the mind. I unfold my parchment on a typewriter exactly like the one in the picture…it’s my creative quirk.
🙂
You’re an inspiring patient writer. It must be fun though, writing on an old typewriter. At least you don’t have to worry about losing your work in a power outage or if your computer dies. 🙂
That’s the main reason I type on it; I lost a collection of short-stories I was working on…right during the final file transfer! Lesson learned, there…
Some of my first early journals and observations were typed on a “suitcase” typewriter; I don’t recall the brand right now, but it was portable and I took it everywhere. It was a gift for my 5th birthday.
😀
I would definitely like to check out your hardened, finished sculpture. It will be a real work of art and talent.
Thanks, Jeff. I’ll remember you.
Kudos to you for your persistence and dedication. I know it takes quite a bit of discipline and organization to sit down and write steadily, particularly when you work full time and have other responsibilities. Good luck!
I have a question for you, skywalker, what do you do when you are incubating (or uninspired as some would call it)? Do you write anyway or do you let it ruminate? Or do you not experience ups and downs with your creative flow?
Blogging has gotten me into the habit of writing, especially over the past few months. I have lots of incomplete story ideas. What I have found that helps to over come lack of inspiration is setting a goal. I set the goal of publishing three books this year, I might not get three published but I’m pretty sure of two. It took me three months to finally decide on the manuscript I’m writing about. Now, I’m writing creative non-fiction. But writing fiction is the same way. Set goals. Find story prompts, there’s many on WordPress and Jeff Goins does a 500 word prompt. Sometimes we want writing to just be fun and flow, but it is work. But it’s work we love and the more we do it, even if we’re not inspired the better we get.
I’m struggling right now and I have an idea as to why, but I don’t want to be right…
Thanks, Shery.
I have many incomplete blog entries that I chose not to post.
I wish you joy-filled-success in your writing!
Thanks. You’re really quite prolific and could easily write a book.
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