How will I know when my manuscript is done? As I edit, re-edit and re-edit again, this is the question that haunts my nightmares and eats at my soul.The answer? I won’t. It never will be. Published and on the shelf, I will still find flaws, things I could have done better: better words, better phrasing, stronger voice, a missed opportunity for conflict.
The real question is not how will I know when it’s done, but how will I know when to let it go?
When I find the answer, I'll post it here first.
At present, I’m using the deadline method. My manuscript will be complete on September 1, for no other reason than it has to be. Who says so? Me.
How do *you* determine when a writing project—book, article, short story, or blog post—is done? Are you able to stop tweaking? If so, please share your secret.
24 Brilliant Insights:
You never stop wanting to tweak it. I think you just have to settle on a point where you choose to stop. Unfortunately.
I read a piece by Barack Obama that said years after finishing Dreams of My Father, he still found sentences he wanted to tweak. Too late!
I've got a deadline I set for myself this year--it must be done by then or too bad!
Yeah, I'm with you - got no idea when or how my MS will ever be ready. It probably won't ever be. There will always be at least one word I will wish I hadn't used!
You struck a nerve here! This is my biggest fault, I believe. I edit entirely too much.
I like the idea behind the deadline approach. Of course, then I have to work on my procrasination.
Ah, yes. The life of a writer. True bliss.
It is very tricky, and I always end up regretting sending our a piece about ten minutes after I've put it in the post box. There's an interesting article about when it's ready here.
Mood
Moody Writing
@mooderino
This morning I found a few problems with yesterday's blog post. I work well to deadline, so I use them to make myself let go. Otherwise I'd fiddle and tweak forever.
Oh, man... yeah, there is always another layer on which you can edit, eh? I try to put the peer feedback in context against whether 'I can fix that without supervision' vs. 'I can fix that, but it will need another round of reading'... but yeah...
BTW--you and I have serious genre overlap, so if you want a reader at some point, just give a shout. I think we could definitely help each other.
I cannot answer your questions because I can NEVER tell. So I eagerly await your post when you figure out the answer :)
Oh, no! I was hoping someone would know the answer to this question, b/c I need to hear it badly. I'm in the same boat. While short stories are one thing, a novel is another. There's just soooo much to tweak. So I keep tweaking. Next spring, the tweaking stops. It must or I shall go mad.
Best to you!
When I revise to the point that I'm changing lines back to what they were in the very first manuscript, I know it's time to stop and just send it to my editor before I kill the poor thing!
Manuscripts are like children. There comes a time when you know deep in your heart that you have to let go ... go out into the world to face it in the state you have shaped in their hearts.
Instinct will tell you when. Doubt will shout NO. Listen to your instincts. They will seldom lead you wrong, Roland
Jessica - If only it weren't such a monumental decision. I suppose one must go at it the same way as life: no regrets.
Stephanie - Haven't yet considered what my punishment will be if I don't finish on time. Any suggestions?
Trisha - Exactly! Why is it that a half-dozen or even a dozen passes at a manuscript isn't enough?
Bryce - Ha! I'm hoping my deadline approach will also help with the procrastination issue.
Moody - What a great link, lots of good advice. Thank you. The rule of not submitting too early has definitely colored how I approach my manuscripts and not always for the better. As an obsessive/compulsive, I admit to using it as an excuse not to let go.
Carol - I use automatic posting on my blog posts. If I didn't, I'd get nothing posted. If and when I reread them (I try not to), I always find something to tweak.
Hart - Ditto! I will email you to confirm and reciprocate this priceless offer!
Layers is the perfect description. It's impossible to tackle everything at once. It is a process of honing. I've heard of writers who do one pass editing, but it's hard to believe.
Sara - There seems to be no answer; that's the bad news. The good news is, we're all in the same boat. (Eek! That was cliché)
Court - I feel your pain. Deadlines are probably our best bet. But ouch!
Diane - LOL! I'm ashamed to admit how many times I've reverted to earlier versions. You're right, this is an excellent tip-off that it's time to let go.
Roland - I agree, but sometimes it's hard to do. Not sure publishers, agents, and writers all share the same instincts. :)
I let go too early the first time around. Now I wait until the story feels complete and I've received feedback to that effect. Still, it's hard to say "I'm done" when deep down you're sure one more pass will reveal spots that could use a bit more fine-tuning.
This is so true! I never feel like anything is DONE, but I do get to a point when I feel like the changes I'm making may not actually be improving anything. That's when I know I'm done.
There's no secret. I'll forever want to tweak.
I'll use my instincts combined with how many awesome changes I made thanks to my crit group and beta readers to determine if I should send it to the agent. The MS still may not be "done." But it has to be let go at some point.
When you're sick and tired of it??? Ever get to that point, V.R. or are you perpetually in love with your manuscript?
Kathryn - I started my first novel in a class, and I had a lot of feedback. That carries it's own risk, especially when one is first starting out. It takes awhile to learn you can't please everyone.
Natalie - Nothing worse than reading an old version of a ms and realizing it's better the one you're working on. I've done that. *cringe*
Medeia - Agreed. The law of diminishing returns is at play here. But sometimes it's so hard to let go!
Stephanie - Ha! Excellent approach. Although, I'd like to try falling in love with my manuscript one day.
Geez, VR, great minds think alike. I posted about the same thing yesterday:
http://pjwriter.blogspot.com/2011/07/end.html
PJ - Awesome! I'm on way over to see what you have say.
Oh, I struggle with this too! Mine is done when my critique partners have gone over the entire book, I've revised it for plotting, pacing, characterization, read it loud, and find myself just making minor word adjustments. I always know when to give up because I can't remember if I've used a phrase seven times or once. It all blurs together!
Jill - You've described my process exactly! The manuscript may not be done, but I certainly am! :)
I don't think any writer ever believes their work is done, not until the day the publisher says, "That's it. We'll take it from here."
I think we know when we're close enough. That is, close enough to query either an agent or an editor. But no matter what, we'll always find errors. We'll always think of a different way to express something. It doesn't matter how great we thought is was. We'll always think we can somehow make it better. Forever.
I'm still revising a novel I wrote 4 years ago, even though I have "finished it" at least 3 times. Every time I open it up, there's something new that could be changed or fixed or adjusted or rewritten to be better, stronger, etc. This last time I thought to myself "What if I rewrote the book to include chapters from a different PoV?" but I don't think I'll actually go that far with it, if for no other reason than I'd rather explore the same themes in new ways and different books instead, at this point. So maybe that's the sign that I'm REALLY done now. I guess we'll see next time I open up the file to read it "just for fun."
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