There are very few parts of my writing rhythm that I’ve hung onto from the beginning, but taking a break between writing my first draft and editing my manuscript is a big one.
I first read about the idea of taking time off between a draft and edits in Stephen King’s On Writing. He says:
“How long you let your book rest–sort of like bread dough between kneadings–is entirely up to you, but I think it should be a minimum of 6 weeks.”
Stephen King, On Writing
After reading that, I decided the next time I finished a manuscript, I would give this a try.
When I had my first chance in the summer of 2004, the six weeks off were excruciating. I caved after two days and pulled up my manuscript. I fretted about all the changes I wanted to make to the first chapter. I put it away and called my best friend (who wasn’t a writer, but was very supportive) to confess what I’d done, and she scolded me. “Why did you do that? You said six weeks. Stay out of there!”
She was right, and I was good after that. I used my time to study other titles that I felt were similar to mine, and by the time I opened my manuscript up six weeks later, my perspective on what a YA story should read like had altered drastically.
For the most part, ever since that misstep in 2004, I have been faithful about taking six weeks off, except for in a few situations:
Why You Might Not Want To Take Six Weeks Off
You have a deadline
This is the #1 reason I shorten my time between my first draft and edits. Sometimes there’s no space in the schedule for a luxurious six week vacation from my first draft.
It doesn’t make sense with your schedule
The few other times that I haven’t followed Stephen King’s six week rule was because I would mark the time out on the calendar and realize, “Oh, that means I would start edits the week my kids get out of school for the summer…” In those times I will shorten my time away.
Why Taking Six Weeks Off Can Be The Best Thing For You and Your Manuscript
While there are a few good reasons that I’ve found for not taking my six weeks off, impatience is not a good one. Here are the benefits I’ve found of taking so much time off:
Rest and recovery time
Typically when I’ve finished a manuscript, I’ve pushed myself hard to get to the end. I need the break from staring at the computer, I need to breathe fresh air and do a few loads of laundry. To be a healthy writer, I need to give myself that space.
Time to work on other ideas
Often times, I have new story ideas or other writing-related tasks that I’ve put off and put off and put off trying to get this manuscript done. Having a rule that I can’t touch the finished manuscript for six weeks gives me plenty of head space to work on new ideas and other tasks. And getting absorbed in brainstorming another story or in reading other books is really helpful for what I’ll talk about next.
Clearer vision
When I come back to my manuscript and I’ve been away so long, it’s amazing to read through the whole thing. There are parts that I don’t remember writing, parts that I thought were brilliant as I wrote them but now I see how rushed they are, conversations that made me laugh when I wrote them and still make me laugh. The time away helps me to see everything far more clearly.
The words feel less precious
If I’ve just written a chapter, it’s much harder for me to go in and whack it all up in edits. I just wrote it, so all the sweat that went into getting those words on the page is still fresh in my memory.
But if I wrote that chapter months ago, it’s amazing how much easier it feels to decide to drastically alter it, or even cut it. “Kill your darlings” becomes much easier advice to follow when you didn’t create your darlings so recently.
I’m a BIG believer in the six weeks off that Stephen King suggests, but writers all work differently from each other and there’s no One Right Way to finish a novel.
I’m curious about what you think. If you’ve finished a first draft and edited the manuscript, did you take a break between?
Yes, taking a break between drafts can be so refreshing!
It really can!
I discovered the idea of taking a break between drafts from the Go Teen Writers book, so thank you! The first time it was hard to stay away, I agree. But after taking a break I came back with fresh eyes and the energy to tackle the project.
I’m so glad you’ve seen benefits!
Thanks for this post, Stephanie!
With a high fantasy novel that I was writing awhile ago, I did take six weeks off. However, I’m doing the 100-for-100 and I think that in a few weeks I’m going to be coming to the end of my rough draft for a historical fiction WIP. This particular WIP is my 100-for-100 project. What should I do during those six weeks? I was thinking about spending a week working on something different for those six weeks that would help me in the edits of my book. Things like storyworld building and character journals. Do you have any ideas or tips? Should I use a different project as my 100-for-100 during those days or keep working on it while not touching my manuscript? Thanks!
I’m in the same boat. I always go up to the Adirondacks at the end of June, and I don’t have my computer with me. I’m planning on spending that week doing storyworld building, character work, and probably some plotting.
Yeah, I’m also spending a few weeks in the mountains without my computer!
I might start plotting the second book… I’m on a roll with a trilogy that I’m writing and I’m really excited to develop it more! I don’t know if you’re planning on writing a sequel, but maybe that idea appeals to you? Happy writing! 🙂
Storyworld building or character journals would definitely count, so if you’d like to do that, that’s fine!
How do you kniw when a draft is worth editing?
This is a fantastic question, Felicity! I think I’ll give it some thought and make it next week’s post.
I can’t wait for next Monday!
I look forward to it! This question, and thereby its answer, are quite relevant to where I am in the writing process right now.
I don’t plan on editing my current WIP until after the 100-for-100 is over. I’m enjoying writing this particular manuscript, but I have other ideas I’m also excited to work on. I also just finished a scene where I killed off one of my favorite characters, so I really want a break. That way, when I’m editing, I might realize, “Eh, that character wasn’t as great as I thought.”
It’s hard to say goodbye to characters we love!
I plan on finishing my WIP by the end of the month. I can’t wait to start editing and watch my book blossom into its full potential, but I’m also looking forward to the six week break. I could use a rest from this story, and I’ve got a few projects on the back burner that I’d like to explore. I also plan on finally reading “On Writing” this summer.
Thanks for all the great tips in this series so far. They’ve been super helpful.
I hope you enjoy On Writing! There’s some language (I mean, it’s Stephen King) but I have benefited greatly from his wisdom.
I feel like when I write something & go to edit it right away (write away, hahaha) I am hyper-critical. When I let it set, it seems I can see little pieces that I might like.
Ooh, yes. Good point. Sometimes that time away can cool off our inner critic.
I am my friend’s editor for a trilogy she’s working on, and I’ve seen how if we run at editing right after she’s finished the book (or chapter; at times we edit chapter by chapter) she gets depressed or burned out way quicker than if we wait a while. This advice is very helpful, thank you!
How wonderful that you’ve noticed that pattern! Makes it much easier to figure out a solution.
I finished my first draft right at the end of the year, so editing didn’t happen until late February. During those 6 weeks, I’m pretty sure my friends thought I was crazy because I wasn’t writing during my free time. I was really excited to do edits, but I wanted to wait the entire 6 weeks, so I asked my friends to stop me if I even pulled it up on my computer.
Once I had taken a break from my manuscript, I reread the first chapter and realized that it was the same one that I wrote for a school project so many years ago. That’s when I realized I had a ton of work to do.
Yeah, that’s a tough realization… How have edits gone?
They’ve gone pretty good. I’ve had to re-write the first 5 chapters or so and I’m almost to the point where I’ll let a few people read it.