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How do you know you're finished with a manuscript?
I'm in what I think might be the final stretches of editing with my manuscript, so I’ve keep asking myself this question.
Last week I signed up for a webinar "How Do You Know You're Done?", but it ended up being about how do you know when to set your manuscript aside.
That’s not what I’m talking about.
What I want to know is: When do you know your story is complete? When do you know it’s time to step away? Because we all know that we as writers can fiddle and tweak—and sometimes too much tweaking can just make things worse.
Here are the signs you might be getting close:
1. You’re changing more minor things: word choice, syntax, and looking at sentence-level type changes.
2. The story says what you want it to say.
4. The synopsis reads like a story, not a muddled mess.
5. Your list of what to change has gotten shorter—and are not so many big picture issues.
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When I draft, I feel like I’m writing in the dark with a flashlight that’s running low on batteries. Right now, it’s like I finally see the figure in the marble (to borrow Michelangelo’s metaphor). It might still have some rough edges, but there’s something there.
The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there, I just have to chisel away the superfluous material. (attributed to Michelangelo)
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| Photo by Val Vesa on Unsplash |
Even though I see these signs, I still waver. What if I’m wrong?
For many years, I didn’t query until I’d had the rubber stamp of approval from a critique partner.
Now, although I still get critiques, I don’t depend on them as much to tell me when my work is ready.
I wait till I know it’s ready. Recently, I was talking about this with a friend, and she told me her brother says, “You just know.” And that sounds about right.
My hope is that my manuscript will be ready-ready in a few months. But it’s been at least seven years since I sent a book length manuscript into the world.
Yes, I'm one of those. A slow writer.
What about you? How do you know your manuscript is ready to be seen by people outside your critique group/partners/family? How do you know you’re done?
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It's hard to know when a manuscript is done because it can always be edited. But I think you have a good checklist on when to stop and start querying. You can always edit again later if you're not getting a good response.
ReplyDeleteSo true! The editing never stops. Thanks for the encouragement, Natalie!
DeleteI'm a slow writer too. Nothing wrong with that. I agree 100% with your guides. It's when you're no longer working on big picture items but on the nit-picky little things that the story is ready. I'm too much of a perfectionist and my husband has to tell me to stop sometimes. LOL!
ReplyDeleteThat's great that your hubby tells you when you need to step away! And it's nice to meet another slow writer.
DeleteI know I'm done when I start changing things back to the way they began - then I know I've gone too far!
ReplyDeleteHa! Yes, I think I'm approaching that point. Thanks, Alex!
DeleteYeah, I find it difficult to decide when I am done. In fact, I'm back to rewriting the book I released over a decade ago! But my gut said to do it, and I'll trust that.
ReplyDeleteThat's dedication to the craft, Loni! There's always ways we can make it better--and you're probably a completely different person than you were 10 years ago.
DeleteI'm a speedy writer who takes breaks, and then spends a long time in revision, so... the end result is medium paced. I usually get to the point where I can't seem to see where to make changes, but know I might need more help, so I ask for beta reader help, and then go through a read out loud pass. After that, I'm usually done.
ReplyDeleteYes, for me the revision part takes the longest. And beta readers are so helpful. We all have blind spots.
DeleteIf you are just changing sentences around or fiddling with wording, I think you're done. Sub and find out. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Thanks for the encouragement, emaginette! So true, sometimes you figure out if you're done by what feedback you get when you send it out.
DeleteWhen is the manuscript done?
ReplyDeleteWell, I thought my post (manuscript) was done & polished. I asked for comments and discovered "adrenaline rush" is not a Show term. What set back.
Next, I finally understood how powerful adding a Theme can improve the story.
So, I'm not done...maybe half baked. hahaha
It sounds like you got great feedback, although it must've been discouraging to get it after you published. It's nearly impossible to catch all your own mistakes, so don't be too hard on yourself. You learned something and that's what counts.
DeleteI’m always wondering if I released too soon… that’s why I love my crit partners early on to help me see what I don’t notice or what I know needed changing, but they help me with suggestions. I’m done when I’m sick of reading my own words, haha. Then I go back and read it through one last time and if I get caught up in my own story, it’s time to set it free =D
ReplyDeleteI think a slow writer is great! I tend to rush sometimes and miss things. Slow and steady, right?
Happy August!
Tara Tyler Talks
Yes, being sick of your own words is always a sign you are close to the finish line. Thanks for the encouragement, Tara!
DeleteInstead of thinking work is DONE, think IT'S DONE FOR NOW. That makes it easier to rest it.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I know I am done (for now or forever, who knows) when I'm only tweaking and making tiny changes, often reversing them back the next day. That is a good indication that I'm done. For now. 😮💨
I like the idea of "done for now". And so true that if you're changing things back, you're there.
DeleteCongratulations on being so close to finished! I'm also a slow writer, but I'm so impatient by the end that I do get the story out the door rather quickly.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jennifer! I also build up momentum towards the end, but I do take my time getting it out there
DeleteI think you should trust yourself. If your guts tell you you're done, you probably are. Because nobody knows more about your story than you.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice, Olga! Thank you!
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteIt depends on my gut feeling. My conscience has to be clear about what I've written. I like to include humor in some of my stories, and when I can laugh about some of the things I have in the story, then I know it is ready.
Take care.
Shalom shalom
I love that if you can laugh at what you've written, you know it's ready! And making sure you're conscience is clear is also a good sign. Thanks, Pat!
DeleteFor me, it's when you have no more ideas or changes you want to add, like you have pointed out, if you're only tweaking minor, little things, it's like you're trying not to finish even when you are. When you have major changes, then it's definitely not done.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day.
So true. Thanks, lissa!
DeleteI agree, sometimes it's hard to know for sure! If you are happy with the story structure and flow, and main character arcs, leave it aside for a few weeks and then read aloud. If you're only tweaking sentences or minor changes (like character names) then you are done. It's hard to let go, I know, but your book will never be perfect, it can only be as good as you can make it at that time. Send it out and work on the next project while it's finding a home. Best of luck - I look forward to hearing more about it!
ReplyDelete