Hi, everyone! It's been a while since I posted, so I thought I'd jump back in and talk about my process from drafting to editing. Since self-editing is such an important part of self-publishing (we can't afford lots of external editing), let's dive in.

The following quote encapsulates my view on the publishing flow from beginning to pre-publication. I don't know where it comes from or if my brain just spat it out like word spaghetti flung at the inside of my skull and it happened to stick.

"I write for myself, revise for myself, and edit for everyone else."

I Write for Myself

Let's start with a few things out in the open. I may start with an outline, but my path from the opening line to "The End" is anything but orderly. My characters and plot keep surprising me as the words fly out, usually deviating from what I planned. It's often unrecognizable by the time I'm done with the first draft.

An important consideration is that writing is therapeutic for me. It helps calm my damaged nervous system and distracts me from that pesky chronic pain. Not only can I escape into fantastical worlds, but I can put my main characters in situations that make mine seem downright pleasant. Sci-Fi lets me explore concepts that draw me out of my own head and play mental games that entertain me.

By writing every day, I feel like I have accomplished something, even if I erase those words the next day.

Note: When I make my main characters entertaining, they're better at distracting me.

THE RUSH

Because I never stick to my original plot, it starts with a flood of ideas, pure and unfiltered, pouring onto the page as I type away with plenty of feelings and the exhilaration of unbridled creativity. My first drafts are admittedly a mess. They usually have giant plot holes, awkward prose, questionable grammar, and plenty of random side tangents. It's all there. But that's just part of the adventure.

Hint: By ignoring many of the problems and jotting them down as I go, the first draft goes faster and I can revise them in my next round.

I REVISE FOR MYSELF

To craft the story I want, I dive into multiple rounds of reworking: reorganizing scenes, enhancing character arcs, filling in overlooked details, and rewriting large sections of the manuscript. The first run-throughs focus more on structuring the story, and less on polishing the prose. As the revisions progress, I shift my focus toward refining the language, crafting each sentence, and finally paying attention to individual words.

This process is like a spiral where each time around I get closer to the story that satisfies my inner storyteller. I get to rewrite sections, which is every bit as exciting for me as pounding them out the first time. It also comes with the advantage that I've thought of details in other sections that can be hinted at earlier — foreshadowing events, or giving a basis for actions and Sci-Fi tech earlier in the story arc.

Fun Aspect: I am very forgetful, so the first few times through, I often forget what I wrote, so it's like I get to work with a brand new story.

I EDIT FOR YOU

If my books were just for me, I might stop after a few revisions. However, sharing my stories with the world is a big part of being an author for me. The goal is to impact others, whether to bring joy, sorrow, excitement, or contemplation. It gives me a sense of pride every time I read a review, whether positive or negative, because it means someone felt strongly enough about it to share their experience. This drives me to refine my work until it resonates with readers.

Editing is a mountainous task for me. Being dyslexic, spotting errors is tremendously challenging. Tools like Google Docs, MS Word, and Grammarly are my vigilant assistants in this phase. I also utilize text-to-speech software to listen to my manuscript, which illuminates awkward sections. If I could afford an editor, I'd happily delegate the grammatical details, but for now, I treat the process like a game rather than an obstacle. I count each mistake as a point and see if I can rack up a high score.

Despite the struggle, as my manuscript gradually takes on a glossy sheen suitable for others, my affection for the finished product keeps growing. The journey from a rough draft full of holes to a polished, published novel is long and arduous, but immensely rewarding.

More: If you're interested, this is my debate about going with and without a professional editor.

FOR MY FRIENDS

My friends and supporters often read my books first. My beta readers and ARC (Advance Reading Copy) readers play a crucial role in the final stages, offering fresh perspectives and catching minor inconsistencies I might have missed. Their feedback is invaluable, guiding the last rounds of revisions. It's humbling to have them put me at the top of their to-be-read list and then go through the effort of giving feedback. I owe it to them to take every criticism, positive or negative, as a gem.

THANK YOU

To put it in different terms, I write to express myself, but ultimately, I publish to connect with you. Each book is a piece of my heart, a fragment of my imagination made tangible, and a bridge to readers' emotions. I appreciate you all for being involved in the process and taking the time to appreciate the final product.

PRE-MADE PLANS

Want a head start? These ready-made task lists turn this post into a checklist you can work through in Tasks:

Drafting to Editing

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