It’s useful, but far from final.
I’m glad that yesterday I worked through a rough layout of the article. Having edited the text, I wanted to confirm it would work well with the photos for the number of pages I’d projected.
After several intense hours, I accomplished my goal. I’d put in place all the elements for four pages in the magazine. It was time for supper — and calling it quits for the day.
Not quite. That evening I had several thoughts on how to make the draft better. The next morning, a few other ideas came.
I put those ideas to work: replacing the opening photo and rearranging the display type to complement its shape and colors. With a new visual cornerstone, I reshuffled and replaced other images on that page.
Much the same happened with the second spread. It looked better with new photos in new sizes. But not good enough. By lunchtime, I’d achieved a version I could live with — likely version five or six.
I know it’s still not final; my team of proofreaders/beta readers will see to that. But given the available text and images, it’s about the best I can accomplish.
Viewed side by side with my first draft, there are definite similarities. But throughout there are also significant changes. That’s what any first draft deserves.
