The Dark Art of Drafting: My Writing Process
Following up on my last post, I’ve got some exciting news: I’ve just finished the first draft of a novel. The idea had been percolating in my brain for years. I guess I just needed that little nudge in order to lock myself away and write it.
As first drafts go – and I’ve had a few of them now – it’s pretty good. Sure, there are subplots that need cutting. One character inexplicably changes names midway through. I use certain words and phrases too much, but that’s what the editing process is for, right?
So, here’s what I do:
Leave it a week. Those assholes who say crap like put your first draft in a box for a month or longer and come back to it with fresh eyes either don’t know what they’re talking about or have way too much spare time on their hands. For me, it’s about momentum. A week is long enough to grow some objectivity, but it doesn’t matter how long you leave it, you’ll never be objective about your own work. So keep at it.
I’ll read the thing through – warts and all. No editing. One sitting.
Then I’ll work on the structure – does it make sense? Do the arcs work? Is there fat I can trim? One of the beautiful things I find here is that there is usually some really good stuff that has unconsciously woven itself into the plot. If I can pull that out and double down on it, then I will. For me, particularly with the stuff I write, that is where I can get the best horror elements.
After that, I’ll do a second pass, where I work on characters and dialogue. This builds it out. Makes the world 3D. It also shows me any weak or superfluous characters or plot points that I might have missed on the last pass.
Finally, I’ll go over it and improve the prose. I’m not a flowery writer. I’m not flexing my vocabulary. I like to be direct. I’m trying to make a connection, after all, so this is the fun part in which my voice really comes out and I get conversational.
I repeat that last part several times and then it’s time to pass it over.
Beta readers. Yeah, I’ll need them. If you’re interested in reading something dark, twisted, and truly unsettling, I’d love to hear from you. I’m not sure when it’ll be ready, but if you have the time and inclination to partake in that part of the process and help a writer out, then I’d love to hear from you. Caveat: it’s really fucking dark. At the moment, it’s darker than anything in Pills. I only want to give you nightmares if that’s your bag. I cannot pay for your therapy.
Can’t wait to share more with you. If you’re up for reading something truly dark, drop me a message.