How many drafts make a novel? One, three, six or more?
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I’m on “that tricky fourth draft”. That’s the one you start (feeling a tad unmotivated) after you thought you’d cracked it, then had another look and realised it wasn’t ready yet.
So what’s this edit about then? Well mainly two things:
1. De-wooding the dialogue
2. Refining the paragraph structure
It’s important stuff, highly necessary, and not particularly fun.
So I chucked every mental roadblock I could at it. Instead of using my writing time productively, I’d be checking Facebook, or thinking I was too tired, or frittering my time away on Twitter, or thinking about a new exciting story, and did I mention Facebook? [repeat to fade].
And then, just over a week ago, I realised I’d spent two months revising 100 pages. Only 100 pages? Rubbish! I was only a third through when I should have done well over half.
So I gave myself a stern talking to, turned off the internet when I was editing, and got on with it!
And so far, so good. I’m three-quarters through and aiming for a sprint finish over the Easter weekend.
So wish me luck … finish line here I come 
