Three drafts are likely not enough.
How many drafts does it take to perfect a novel? According to one veteran writer, at least four.
In his Facebook post this past weekend, Ace Andrew Collins mentioned he has “signed contracts with publishers for 96 releases: 42 nonfiction, 28 novels, and 26 youth books.” So it’s fair to say he knows something about writing success.
A few days ago, Collins offered some insights into his process.
“After writing and rewriting three times,” he says, “the more than 600 pages of my sixteenth novel from the In the President’s Service series have been printed out.”
Why use a printout? “Now I can go through it word for word and line for line for another round of edits.”
Why work so hard? “The publisher will be releasing it later this fall.”
“Going back through 600 pages … that you have written and already rewritten is both exhausting and rewarding,” he says. “While it’s tedious to go over each sentence again, it’s really a great feeling to realize it’s a good read.”
That’s what works for him. If you’ve had nearly one hundred books published, four drafts may be enough. If you’ve had less experience, you might need more. After all, publishers and readers expect your best.
