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Manuscripting and Editing Schedule

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Calvin

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Hello,

I started my serious writing as a loner a couple or more decades ago. This is my first try at group participation. So, assuming I’m not brilliant (hard to believe, eh?) I thought I would see how the other half lives. How do you all tackle the manuscripting/editing cycle/schedule? What would you all recommend?
(I hope this makes sense.)

Calvin
 
Hard for me to answer since I write devotionals and inspirational stories. I'm sure the others will have something to share with you. ;)
 
Oops! Sorry. I wasn’t trying to ask you specifically. I wonder what I did wrong when I made the post. [Calvin scratches head]

Calvin
 
I think it's something everyone has to work out for themselves. A lot depends on your goals as a writer. I generally wait until I get two or three critiques on a chapter, and then go through and decide which (if any) of the comments and suggestions I want to act on. I also do frequent read-throughs of my stories, often finding mistakes or better ways to phrase things.
 
Calvin said:
Hello,

I started my serious writing as a loner a couple or more decades ago. This is my first try at group participation. So, assuming I’m not brilliant (hard to believe, eh?) I thought I would see how the other half lives. How do you all tackle the manuscripting/editing cycle/schedule? What would you all recommend?
(I hope this makes sense.)

Calvin
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I spend about 6 months (or a little more) producing a cohesive rough draft. Then, I set it aside for a month so I can look at it with fresh eyes.

I do a number of passes revising the manuscript. After each pass, I set it aside for a week. I make sure that at least 1 pass I either read it out loud or have text to speech read it back to me. I repeat this until I'm only making minor changes to the manuscript. At that time, it's ready to start the full production process.

Next, it goes through two rounds of editing with revisions after each round.

Then I start cover, interior formatting, yadda, yadda, yadda, blah, blah, blah.
 
Jeff Potts said:
I spend about 6 months (or a little more) producing a cohesive rough draft. Then, I set it aside for a month so I can look at it with fresh eyes.

I do a number of passes revising the manuscript. After each pass, I set it aside for a week. I make sure that at least 1 pass I either read it out loud or have text to speech read it back to me. I repeat this until I'm only making minor changes to the manuscript. At that time, it's ready to start the full production process.

Next, it goes through two rounds of editing with revisions after each round.

Then I start cover, interior formatting, yadda, yadda, yadda, blah, blah, blah.
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Thank you. I like the “fresh eyes approach. Worth mimicking.

Calvin
 
Do you mean the manuscripting and editing schedule in general or for publication? That likely will influence the schedule. All the same, Westee, Jeff Potts, and suspensewriter gave the notes already.
 
Leithia Juarch said:
Do you mean the manuscripting and editing schedule in general or for publication? That likely will influence the schedule. All the same, Westee, Jeff Potts, and suspensewriter gave the notes already.
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Hi Leitha,

I am focusing on pre-publication at this time. Once I get enough work done to look at publishing, then my focus will shift.

Calvin
 
Calvin said:
Hello,

I started my serious writing as a loner a couple or more decades ago. This is my first try at group participation. So, assuming I’m not brilliant (hard to believe, eh?) I thought I would see how the other half lives. How do you all tackle the manuscripting/editing cycle/schedule? What would you all recommend?
(I hope this makes sense.)

Calvin
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Just to be sure I understand where you are as a writer: Have you completed a manuscript yet?
 
Calvin said:
No sir. I have some 50K fragments in the pipeline after “Dear Dad…,” but nothing complete to First (Rough) Draft.

Calvin
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I'm a ma'am. 😊 Thanks for your response; that makes it easier for me to pontificate in a more targeted way. :D

There are some writing skills you can fully hone only when you experience of completing a full manuscript - you can read about story arcs, theme, payoff to your premise, and plot structure all day, but until you've wrestled a complete story into shape, certain lessons won't fully click.

However, there concrete things you can work on right now:
  • Writing vivid scenes
  • Crafting solid dialogue
  • Developing your prose style
  • Creating engaging descriptions
  • Writing effective action
  • Handling POV smoothly
  • Managing pacing within scenes
These are all skills that can be practiced and improved at the scene level, without needing to complete a full manuscript. These are crucial foundational skills you can hone now, through getting critiques, while working toward that completed manuscript. Once you have a completed first draft, you can work on the bigger-picture skills.
 
EBraten said:
I'm a ma'am. 😊 Thanks for your response; that makes it easier for me to pontificate in a more targeted way. :D

There are some writing skills you can fully hone only when you experience of completing a full manuscript - you can read about story arcs, theme, payoff to your premise, and plot structure all day, but until you've wrestled a complete story into shape, certain lessons won't fully click.

However, there concrete things you can work on right now:
  • Writing vivid scenes
  • Crafting solid dialogue
  • Developing your prose style
  • Creating engaging descriptions
  • Writing effective action
  • Handling POV smoothly
  • Managing pacing within scenes
These are all skills that can be practiced and improved at the scene level, without needing to complete a full manuscript. These are crucial foundational skills you can hone now, through getting critiques, while working toward that completed manuscript. Once you have a completed first draft, you can work on the bigger-picture skills.
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“A pox upon me for a clumsy lout!” My apologies m’lady.

My present project is a memoir-ish “letter” to my Dad (deceased). It is all in first person as one would expect a missive to be. Rare dialog, if any. My next project (presently at 50K words) has all fiction stories. Much better fodder for your list above. Thanks for the help.

Calvin
 
Calvin said:
My next project (presently at 50K words) has all fiction stories. Much better fodder for your list above.
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So your current project is an anthology of short stories? If so, you have however many short stories you have written. That's a good way to start because you have already dealt with the bigger picture, even if on a smaller scale.
 
Calvin said:
Hi Leitha,

I am focusing on pre-publication at this time. Once I get enough work done to look at publishing, then my focus will shift.

Calvin
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Oh, okay. Well, there is most of the notes about what to do given already, and in your other post, the critique section was already mentioned. Not sure i will be much additional help. You can always write specific questions, too, if that helps.
 
I do far more editing than writing at the moment but in a way it is part of the writing process. Far too many writers publish work before it is ready.
The novel due to published later this year is about 2 yrs old. It took me a month to research and plot, 3 to write and the rest of the time it has been in the drawer resting before I do an edit. This is repeated several times. Then it gets a developmental edit. More revision and a final edit before publication, which is the stage it is at now.
 
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