This book writing stuff. It’s really hard.
My novel has been a work in progress for a good year and a half, and I wish I could say it was almost done. I realized, however, during three days of writing workshops at the Philadelphia Writers Conference that I have much to do before calling it a day.
Book writing isn’t just the writing.
A key part is the planning, the structuring. There are mechanics to novel writing that can not be ignored. Each character, for example, must have a story arc comprised of the situation, the spark and the conclusion. A character must have a goal and obstacles that must be overcome to reach that goal. And once that is established, the character’s arc must intersect with the other characters’ arcs.
Dialogue needs a context and a subtext. Dialogue must be authentic but not mundane. It can be reported or condensed, and it needs to propel the action.
I could have done this differently.
There is another way, a better way, that writer and editor Stuart Horwitz presents in his new book, Finish Your Book in Three Drafts: How to Write a Book, Revise a Book, and Complete a Book While You Still Love it, the third book in his Book Architecture Trilogy.
Horwitz is the founder and principal of Book Architecture, a firm of independent editors based in Providence, RI (www.bookarchitecture.com) whose clients have reached the bestseller list in both fiction and nonfiction.
I was fortunate to meet Horwitz at last year’s Philadelphia Writers Conference, and his keynote was one of the highlights for me, so much so that I approached him after his presentation to tell him how much I enjoyed it. Not only is Horwitz a smart guy, he is down to earth and has a great sense of humor. As a writer, he totally gets the frustrations we writers experience with endless revisions. He’s been there himself.
Finish Your Book in Three Drafts gives writers, fiction and non-fiction alike, a practical way to get through the revision process with minimal consternation. Horwitz proposes that a book can be completed in three drafts:
- The messy draft: which is all about getting it down.
- The method draft: which is all about making sense.
- The polished draft: which is all about making it good.
“I think about the people who don’t publish their books, and too often it’s not because they lack the writing skills. It’s because they got lost along the way. One draft isn’t going to cut it, but neither is twenty,” Horwitz says. “All you need is three drafts, and the tools to know where you are in the process.”
What’s more, Finish Your Book in Three Drafts is interactive. The book is nicknamed “3D” because it contains nine stop-motion videos that bring the concepts to life through the use of action figures, and nine PDFs for when you want more detailed information and instructions about topics such as “How to Find Your Theme,” “The Five Definitions of Scene,” and “How to Construct Your Book Proposal.”
Finish Your Book in Three Drafts is available in both print and digital editions from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indiebound.
I’m taking a look at my novel through a different lens now, and it is so worth the extra time.
I received a copy of Finish Your Book in Three Drafts for an honest review,
which is the only kind of review I write.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2016 Helene Cohen Bludman
Oh yes, I can relate to Horwitz’s comment about writers “getting lost along the way.” Looking forward to reading your novel, Helene.
And is another book in your future, Pat? I hope so!
I want to work on a book, so the are great tips. I approach all major writing jobs like this with the 3 drafts as you have listed above.
Very good!
Cool, rewrites kill me. 3 drafts would be great. Thanks
Haralee recently posted…The 5 Best and Worst Things to Say to an Entrepreneur
Right? Three sounds perfect.
I love knowing this resource is out there (should the day come that I get back to my memoir). Thanks for sharing this information, Helene.
I find it so interesting that it’s much more than the writing. I remember reading about Jodi Picoult and how she spends up to a year researching a book sometimes. Amazing. I am a writer, and I still find it astonishing. What a process!
I always learn something new at these writing conferences, Tamara!
Where was this blog when I wrote my first, second and third book! Love the three drafts concept. Great info!
You are doing everything right, Ellen, to have three books out!
I give you so much credit for writing a book, Helene, and can’t wait for you to finish drafts 1, 2 and 3 so I can read it!
Thank you, Lois!
First I want to say (again) how much I enjoy your style of writing and your choice of words. What you learned at the conference and from this incredible sounding book adds to the wealth of knowledge you already possessed about writing. You have a true talent. Now you can begin working on your next draft to bring you one step closer to publication. I can’t wait to read it!!
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Thank you, Cathy, and I look forward to reading yours!
The conference sounds great Helene! I will apply this method when I get my messy draft done. I have to avoid the urge to re-edit small parts rather than writing new sections!
That’s a challenge for me too, Nancy.
Good for you writing a novel! I have a friend from school who wrote her first novel last year and now onto a sequel. I think the hardest part of writing a book is committing the time. It is easy to procrastinate – oh I’ll just grab another coffee before I start. Discipline in writing is certainly something a novelist would need. Thanks for the tips – who knows one day I might even try to write a book!
I agree 100%. The self-discipline is really hard.
It’s always wonderful to hear about people who actually make it happen. I’m still pondering and spinning wheels for a number of good reasons. Well, one really good one. Because it’s a memoir. 😉
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I really hope you write that memoir, Carol.
I’ve never felt inspired to write a book – it just seems like such a long haul – but there is really interesting stuff (like this) out there if I ever change my mind 🙂 Thanks for sharing
I think many of the lessons can apply to other forms of writing as well, Leanne.
I still haven’t written draft 1 but this is good to know and encouraging. I will definitely share this with my friends who are working on novels.
Rebecca Forstadt Olkowski recently posted…New Ulm, A Charming Slice of Germany in Minnesota
Thanks, Rebecca!
Wow. My sister in law is a writer. She wants to write a book of short stories. I’m betting this would be a useful resource for her.
Alicia Taylor recently posted…Be Stronger! Find your internal strength source
That’s great! Best of luck to her.
Wow – sounds like an incredible resource! Thanks for sharing!
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My pleasure!
If I ever write a novel, I’m getting this book. Sounds incredibly useful.
Thanks, Roz!
It is so hard to publish and write a book. So many ups and downs along with the highs and lows. I admire you for hanging in there and for all of these tips.
You are so right, Stephanie. Thank you!
This sounds so helpful. My boyfriend is an author and he could probably use some of Horwitz’s advice.
Awesome! Good luck to him!
Lots of work. I can agree. Personally having a tool like Scrivener has helped me immensely. It helps me organize and form structure to my store. Not the easiest task for my brain.
Jamie@southmainmuse recently posted…Antiques Roadshow Tickets. Trash or treasure?
Jamie, I use Scrivener as well. It definitely is helpful with the organization.
I’m with the others—not just a great review, a helpful review with a few good tips for relaxing a bit with the process. Like I need another book, but I might have to cave! Thanks for the valuable share!
Thanks so much, Meg!
Very Nice:)
Thank you for this valuable information.
I will use this theory, When I published “farm to Table for schools” I did practically hate it by the end of the process. Hopefully the book I am working on now will be less painful.
Best of luck to you Helene on your novel, I cannot wait to read it.
And good luck to you, Budd!
I want to work on a book, so the are great tips. Thank you so much for sharing them!
Thank you!
I’m working on my 2nd book now and boy, would this be helpful. Thanks for sharing all these tips.
Tonya C recently posted…Create Your Own Party Planning Toolkit!
This seems like a great tool for people writing a book. I am nowhere near ready to take on that task yet.
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Keep up the good work, Helene! It will be worth it in the end! Writing is a process that can’t be rushed. Your conference sounded extremely worthwhile.
Thanks, Sue! I need the pep talk!