Recognizing the Problem

Books aren't written, they're rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn't quite done it.

– Michael Crichton

The first step to any problem is to accept that you have a problem. I'm not talking about substance abuse here. I'm talking about First Draft Syndrome. You come to me with a manuscript fresh out of the printer and you say, "I finished my novel! What do I do now?"

I say, "It's not done."

I haven't even looked at it, but chances are, there's more to do, especially if it's your first draft.

They tell you to "polish" your manuscript. I hate that word. It makes it sound like revision is synonymous with proof-reading. Guess again.