Draft 18

I am in the midst of draft 18 of my current novel. This is an administrative fact, but one that carries nuance.

The term defined: This is the 18^th time I’ve printed, hand-edited, and rekeyed the entire manuscript. That is the extent of the value of saying “this is draft number 18.” 

The nuance it carries: There are sentences and paragraphs in this manuscript that are in their 3^rd draft and others that are in their 12^th. As I write this 18^th draft, I’ll be adding sentences. These sentences will be first draft sentences. These rookie sentences are joining a roster of preexisting sentences’some of which are veterans, some of which are mid-career. 

My job is to develop this manuscript as a whole, to bring all of it along, to ensure that each sentence, no matter its tenure, is carrying weight, is collaborating with the sentences surrounding it. And, if I’ve done my work well, those first draft sentences and paragraphs, those last minute edits won’t be visible to the reader. If I’ve done my job well, the reader will never consider this entire process, but will get lost in the dream that is story.

HBARP