Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book

 

"Brilliant, time-tested and clear" advice that will help writers at all stages, in all genres, write their very best book—and then make it better. As a freelance editor for more than a decade, Williams has shepherded books from rough draft to polished manuscripts bought by Big Five houses, university and literary presses, and for independent publishers. Now, she distills everything she's learned from editing hundreds of drafts, coaching writers past creative blocks, and navigating authors through querying and publication, into this useful guide for every step from idea to book.

Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book divides writing and revision into distinct stages, with a new focus in each draft. Williams' frank, funny voice encourages writers to tackle even big editing tasks with a sense of humor and a feeling that someone who understands is on their side.

With plenty of fresh examples, insider wisdom, and snappy footnotes, Seven Drafts teaches story, character, elements of writing craft and structure, how to seek and use feedback, and the publication process. This book will prove invaluable for the writer mindset, with transformative advice on using envy to fuel your own work, finding a writing community, and literary citizenship. Editors and teachers will discover nuts and bolts of what they "already know" and elevate their students' work while refining their own methods.

You'll laugh. You'll write. You'll finish your book, with Seven Drafts on your side.

Praise for Seven Drafts

"Like a friend privately taking you aside, delivering the honest truth you need, in a way that makes you enthusiastic to keep on going, even when the work gets very hard." —Jane Friedman, publishing expert and author of The Business of Being a Writer

"...understands at a molecular level what makes prose work." —Christopher Buehlman, author of The Blacktongue Thief

"...crucial, clear, and inside-secret information...to elevate our grammar, style, and storytelling with precision and joy." —Diane Zinna, author of The All-Night Sun

1138435699
Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book

 

"Brilliant, time-tested and clear" advice that will help writers at all stages, in all genres, write their very best book—and then make it better. As a freelance editor for more than a decade, Williams has shepherded books from rough draft to polished manuscripts bought by Big Five houses, university and literary presses, and for independent publishers. Now, she distills everything she's learned from editing hundreds of drafts, coaching writers past creative blocks, and navigating authors through querying and publication, into this useful guide for every step from idea to book.

Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book divides writing and revision into distinct stages, with a new focus in each draft. Williams' frank, funny voice encourages writers to tackle even big editing tasks with a sense of humor and a feeling that someone who understands is on their side.

With plenty of fresh examples, insider wisdom, and snappy footnotes, Seven Drafts teaches story, character, elements of writing craft and structure, how to seek and use feedback, and the publication process. This book will prove invaluable for the writer mindset, with transformative advice on using envy to fuel your own work, finding a writing community, and literary citizenship. Editors and teachers will discover nuts and bolts of what they "already know" and elevate their students' work while refining their own methods.

You'll laugh. You'll write. You'll finish your book, with Seven Drafts on your side.

Praise for Seven Drafts

"Like a friend privately taking you aside, delivering the honest truth you need, in a way that makes you enthusiastic to keep on going, even when the work gets very hard." —Jane Friedman, publishing expert and author of The Business of Being a Writer

"...understands at a molecular level what makes prose work." —Christopher Buehlman, author of The Blacktongue Thief

"...crucial, clear, and inside-secret information...to elevate our grammar, style, and storytelling with precision and joy." —Diane Zinna, author of The All-Night Sun

9.99 In Stock
Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book

Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book

by Allison K Williams
Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book

Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book

by Allison K Williams

eBook

$9.99 

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Overview

 

"Brilliant, time-tested and clear" advice that will help writers at all stages, in all genres, write their very best book—and then make it better. As a freelance editor for more than a decade, Williams has shepherded books from rough draft to polished manuscripts bought by Big Five houses, university and literary presses, and for independent publishers. Now, she distills everything she's learned from editing hundreds of drafts, coaching writers past creative blocks, and navigating authors through querying and publication, into this useful guide for every step from idea to book.

Seven Drafts: Self-Edit Like a Pro from Blank Page to Book divides writing and revision into distinct stages, with a new focus in each draft. Williams' frank, funny voice encourages writers to tackle even big editing tasks with a sense of humor and a feeling that someone who understands is on their side.

With plenty of fresh examples, insider wisdom, and snappy footnotes, Seven Drafts teaches story, character, elements of writing craft and structure, how to seek and use feedback, and the publication process. This book will prove invaluable for the writer mindset, with transformative advice on using envy to fuel your own work, finding a writing community, and literary citizenship. Editors and teachers will discover nuts and bolts of what they "already know" and elevate their students' work while refining their own methods.

You'll laugh. You'll write. You'll finish your book, with Seven Drafts on your side.

Praise for Seven Drafts

"Like a friend privately taking you aside, delivering the honest truth you need, in a way that makes you enthusiastic to keep on going, even when the work gets very hard." —Jane Friedman, publishing expert and author of The Business of Being a Writer

"...understands at a molecular level what makes prose work." —Christopher Buehlman, author of The Blacktongue Thief

"...crucial, clear, and inside-secret information...to elevate our grammar, style, and storytelling with precision and joy." —Diane Zinna, author of The All-Night Sun


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781949116441
Publisher: Woodhall Press
Publication date: 09/27/2021
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 342
File size: 3 MB

About the Author

As The Unkind Editor, Allison K Williams has edited and coached writers to publishing deals with Penguin Random House, Knopf, Mantle, Spencer Hill, St. Martin's Press and Black Rose, as well as small-press and indies. She's guided essayists and humorists to publication in media including Time, the Guardian, McSweeney's and TED Talks. A popular conference speaker and online personality, she serves as Brevity's Social Media Editor, where her twice-weekly blogs on craft and the writing life inspire 50K subscribers. As an author and storyteller her work has appeared in the New York Times and on NPR and CBC-Canada. She leads Rebirth Your Book writing retreats virtually and around the world.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1: THE VOMIT DRAFT CHAPTER 2: THE STORY DRAFT CHAPTER 3: THE CHARACTER DRAFT CHAPTER 4: THE TECHNICAL DRAFT CHAPTER 5: THE PERSONAL COPYEDIT INTERMISSION CHAPTER 6: THE FRIEND READ CHAPTER 7: THE EDITOR READ CHAPTER 8: PUBLICATION CHAPTER 9: MAKING A WRITING LIFE CHAPTER 10: RESOURCES
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