Beating a Draft Horse

There are many famous quotes regarding first drafts. Terry Pratchett, British author of the Discworld series, said a first draft is "just you telling yourself the story." In a characteristically less polite way, American author Earnest Hemingway famously said the following: "The first draft of anything is shit."

That's a classic example of British subtly and American directness, and I totally agree with both of them. But, the question is, how many drafts does it take to complete a novel?

According to New York Times bestselling author Eric Nylund, "about seven serious drafts and about five lesser revision cycles." That surprised me, because Eric writes novelizations of the HALO video game series. I assumed that since he already had an established world with established characters and conflicts that it would be easier to create a novel from that "base camp."

Apparently not.

I've reviewed the blogs of several authors and the consensus for drafts is anywhere from two to twenty. So, where does that leave me?
Somewhere between two and twenty.
Or, as Craig Furguson's novel about suicide suggest, somewhere "Between the Bridge and the River."

I've done three drafts, three plot outline revisions, and revised and edited the second and third drafts. And now, I've come to the sad realization that some of my main characters need an overhaul, and that my supporting cast of archetype characters are not relating the way they should according to elements of the Dramatica theory.

So here I am, reworking the story, characters, motivations, and relationships from the beginning- again. This will be followed by a fourth draft. When I'm done, the manuscript will be reviewed by several of my writer friends, who will undoubtedly give me feedback, which will take me through yet another revision. That revised manuscript will then make the rounds of the publishers who will also supply me with further revisions, or possibly, another draft.

All in all, I'll be lucky if I can do this in five drafts and as many revisions.

Anyway, the object of this post is to help me realize that I may only be at the halfway mark. That is good and bad. "Good" because I realize that I'm very much where I should be in this process. On the other hand, I also realize that I'm moving through that middle ground where so many novelist give up out of sheer frustration.

Don't worry. I'm not the type that gives up easily. In fact, I'm more the type who will persevere in the face of overwhelming odds. When others would sensibly pick themselves up from the ground, brush themselves off, and go home after flinging themselves over the edge of a cliff, I'm the one who will climb back up the hill for "another go at it."

So, I'll plod (or is that plot?) along because, like my protagonist, I realize that this is a journey, and the lessons are not learned by reaching the destination port.

Not at all.

The valuable lessons are learned by crossing the ocean.

Gary