For me, it’s birthday month, so this is going to be brief. *Updated* based responses in the comments, I realize that I need to clarify this. October is my birthday month. June is for my sister, brother, husband, father, nephew, a few in-laws, and a few cousins. With graduations, weddings, anniversaries, and baby showers, June is always a busy month. 
Created and hosted by the Ninja himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writers Support Group posts the 1st Wednesday of every month. Click the image to learn more or sign up.
Optional Monthly Question: For how long do you shelve your first draft, before reading it and re-drafting? Is this dependent on your writing experience and the number of stories/books under your belt?
It can take me anywhere from 30 days to 36 months to complete a first draft, depending on how many times I chuck it all and completely start over. Once I’ve finished a first draft; however, I stick to a pretty solid regimen. I wait one month before reading it again. If I don’t feel the slightest bit impressed with the fact that I completed something that isn’t horrible, I don’t move forward to making developmental edits. Usually, after a 3rd draft is when I start trying to have other people look at what I’ve read. After feedback from at least two people, I do my own superficial edits (‘cause I can’t do a decent self-edit to save my life) before seeking the services of one to two editors.
I recently had the opportunity to try out the services of a writing coach and received some immensely helpful feedback. Whenever I do finally have something worth pursuing for publication, I will definitely invest in her services when working on a 2nd or 3rd draft.
****
I’ll have more to share next month. For now, I hope everyone is staying safe.
****
So, how long do you wait to read your manuscript after the first draft?
It may take some time, but I promise, I will eventually stop by your blog.
****
After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
J Lenni Dorner,
Sarah Foster,
Natalie Aguirre,
Lee Lowery, and
Rachna Chhabria!
****
Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #36).
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords #blacklivesmatter
27 replies on “#IWSG June 2021: How long can you wait?”
I worked with a writing coach recently and found it incredibly helpful as well!
I like your timeframe – 30 days to 36 months! Every project seems to have its own timeline for sure.
Thank you for your post!
Thanks for stoppiny by. I’ve alwasy wanted to try a writing coach. Eventhough I took some writing classes in college and read writing books, it think it’s good to seek the adice of others sometime. I’m constantly learning more about writing everyday.
Hi,
I believe every writer has his or her on system because that is a part of writing that no one can organize so that everyone is doing it the same way. You’ve found your way and that is what makes it great. By the way, I let my first draft sit a month before i begin revising to.
Have a lovely month of June.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
I agree. Everyone has to come up with a system that works for them. If we all tried do to things the same way, too much creativity with be cut short trying to conform.
Don’t feel the slightest bit impressed – funny!
Happy birthday!
Thank you. I posted an update and will share your sentiments with all my family members.
I need that time away from a draft as well.
Currently doing a total rewrite on a 4th draft. It’s trying to kill me 🙂
Happy birthday month!!
Thank you. I’m currently trying to completely reboot a whole series. So far there’s no end in sight but there is progress everyday.
Happy Birthday. Enjoy. This is Juno’s month, patroness for the well-being of women.
Thank you. I posted an update and will share your birthday wishes with my family. Thanks for telling me about Juno.
Now I see why it’s your birthday month! Wow. Very busy indeed.
Sometimes you just got to step away. Happy Birthday and Happy Writing!
Yes, absence makes the writing better. Thanks for stopping by.
That’s great that you have a system for when your first draft is done. I’m definitely not that organized.
Knowing what to do with my first draft is the easy part. Getting through the 2nd and 3rd are torture, than there’s the feedback- sometimes immensley helpful, sometimes scary and or intensely humbling.
Good to know you had a good experience with a writing coach. I’m working on a new project and considering that route at some point. I’m thinking second or third draft, as well. I have a couple of trusted people for general edits, which is a huge help in terms of fresh eyes.
I got to sample the coaching services but the sample was more than enough. It’s great to have that kind of insight into your work. I wish I have more beta readers at my disposal, but I make due. When I have something that won’t waste the coaches time, I’ll invest in the full services.
❤️❤️
Hey Toi, so glad the writing coach helped. It’s always great to learn more and to have another pair of eyes on our work.
And I forgot – happy birthday!
Thank you. I’ve posted an update and will share your birthday wishes with my family. I can’t wait to really work with the coach again.
Had to laugh—May is the month in my family with about a million birthdays and a couple of anniversaries (I guess now including one I’d rather not have).
As for time waiting on my drafts, it’s probably as much dictated by my life schedule as anything, but I need a minimum of one month. I have to distance myself enough to read it like it’s someone else’s work.
Yes. That distance is important.
Happy birthday to your family members. Have fun!
That’s a great idea – to try the services of a writing coach. Well done on helpful feedback from the coach. It’s good to have that kind of feedback as you move forward with the edits on that story.
Sounds like you’re organised, Toi! Good for you.
I try to be organized but sometimes fail. Still, the effort does make a difference.
June certainly sounds like a busy and happy month. I hope it’s a good one for you. With my family, there’s three birthdays in June, too. 🙂
Yeah, I feel like June and December are just seasons of celebrations. There always seems to be so much going on at both those times.