multiple drafts out in longhand now write only one complete
draft of their work on the computer, making as many changes
as they need to during the writing process.o In other words, although each individual chapter may go
through multiple drafts, many writers no longer compose one
complete draft of a whole book; they don’t advance to the next
FKDSWHUXQWLOWKHFXUUHQWRQHLVPRUHRUOHVV¿QLVKHGOne Draft versus Multiple Drafts
z If you’ve thought about a book for a long time, when you sit down to
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characters, the plot, and the setting, the later chapters may come easier.
z The creative process may also become easier for you as you gain
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you’re learning as you go, but as you become more experienced, you
no longer have to teach yourself how to write dialogue, build suspense,
and so on.
z Of course, there is always more than one way of doing things. No doubt,
there are many experienced writers who continue to write in multiple
complete drafts throughout their careers, and no doubt there are some
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should do what works best for you.
z In the end, whether you write multiple drafts or only one depends on the
nature of the project. A plot-driven story that takes place in chronological
order may be easier to write in one draft than a story that encompasses
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z Note, too, that as you gain experience, you may no longer follow the
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than later drafts. In other words, you may become an “accretive” writer: