Space between the draft and the edit
Two weeks back, I emailed to let you know that I had finished the first draft of my “publishing for programmers” book (I really need to settle on a title!). You might be thinking that after researching and writing 25,000+ words, I’d be eager to edit the book and get it out into the world. And you’d be absolutely right!
In the fiction world, there’s a widespread suggestion (seriously, google “time between first draft and editing”) to not jump immediately into editing after writing. From Writer’s Edit “7 Mistakes To Avoid When Editing Your First Draft” (emphasis mine):
Unless you already have a contract with a publisher and must meet a deadline, give your first draft time to settle before you start the editing process. We’d suggest at least two weeks, preferably four.
…
Having that break will give you the distance and perspective you need to edit your first draft.
Does this apply to non-fiction as well?
I think it does. When you’re writing your first draft of fiction or non-fiction alike, you’re immersed in your subject. Sure, you try to keep your readers’ perspectives in mind as you write, but there are only so many things the brain can do at one time and the focus during the first draft is on getting everything you have in mind down on paper. This is why we edit in the first place: It’s hard to get it all right the first time around.
I find that going straight from first draft to edit doesn’t give my brain much time to switch gears and move more fully from my perspective to that of a reader. When I’m writing a blog post like this, I’ll generally go straight from first draft to edit to publish, because it’s a short piece with relatively low stakes. A book is different both in the depth of presentation and the stakes in getting it right.
Since finishing my first draft, I’ve spent essentially no time thinking about it. It has helped that I’ve had a lot going on in the real world and another writing project that has a nebulous deadline of “soon”. My current plan is to start editing in about two weeks, because I know I have a busy two weeks ahead and things calm down considerably after that.
Whatever book project you have in mind, I hope it is going well for you!
Kevin