3rd Draft @ 104,896 Words
by Steven McCabe
The 2nd draft stood at roughly 80,000 words after removing 20,000 words, give or take, from where it stood after the 1st draft. This time the edit seemed to go in reverse as I developed connections, elaborations, new scenes, etc… and added almost 25,000 words to the total.
In the New Year the scissors will be out again for the 4th draft. Speaking of which, my father’s father was a barber during the Great Depression. He was, by all accounts – and as I can attest, a frightening man although he did feed his family during perilous times. My father ended up with his barbershop gear and, much to my displeasure, put them to use on Saturday mornings. That doesn’t really have anything to do with editing the 4th draft. But of course it does.
Update: As of today (1/3/2021) the 3rd draft (which I thought was complete) has grown to 131,287 words. Which means the next draft/edit will take longer than anticipated although I don’t know why I anticipated anything at all. The story-idea hasn’t wanted to stop although I think (hope) now it has.
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Hi Steven, Just to say good luck with the fourth draft. I know how much work goes into edits, re-edits and more edits, but it’s all good and I’m sure your finished product will be worth all the effort.
Have a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.
Best regards, Teri
Hi Teri, Long time no see! Nice to hear from you. Yes it will take some time, it’s a process isn’t it. I keep telling ‘it’ we’re finished but ‘it’ keep unspooling further material for ‘itself.’ 🙂 I wish you too a wonderful Christmas and New Year. All best from here! Steven
Best of luck with the 4th draft. Maybe the analogy is to be found here is that where your grandfather cut and edited the hair that came out of your head, you cut and edit the words that come out of your head… That symbolism works in dreams, if not in waking life. 🙂
Hi Jeanie, Thank you for this analogy and nice to hear from you! Your analogy is interesting and I think the symbolism works in waking life too. There is a socializing aspect to cutting and shaping the manuscript’s appearance. One desires to make it palatable and clean. Readable. One could be wilder than one allows oneself to be perhaps. I hope the extra words added since I first posted on Dec.9th add a hard-to-describe flavour. I enjoyed thinking about your idea. Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year!