Using Focused Drafts

Focused Drafts are, in my opinion, the most effective way to revise a manuscript because they allow you to examine a single aspect of your manuscript in isolation.

That focus will help you finish the editing process quicker, with more excellent quality than editing everything at once.

If you decide to map out your Focused Drafts, then they can also give you a sense of direction and progress during your revision process.
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Keep a checklist handy, such as my Picture Book Writing Cheat Sheet, as you revise.

"If you chase two rabbits, you will catch neither one." -Russian Proverb

I take this same approach when I am critiquing or studying some else's work. It is challenging to keep a critical eye when everything moves through you at once.
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Here is an example of a Focused Draft list by Jack Gantos, from his book, Writing Radar:

• Point of View Revise for consistency and explore different perspectives.

• Structure Make sure everything is in its proper place.

• Physical Action Revise for believable movement and rising action.

• Interior Life Look for the Internal plot in character motivations, thoughts, and imagination.

• Dialogue Create dialogue that builds well-rounded, believable characters and moves the action along.

• Descriptions Create poetry, and analyze the mood.

• Words Clean out the junk. Jeff Gantos suggests removing 'ands', 'ifs', 'buts', etc. Revise for engaging vocabulary.

• Clean Up and Polish Look for spelling and punctuation errors. Fix the rough parts and remove the repetitious parts.

Check out my Picture Book Writing Cheat Sheet for a complete focused draft map by me.

​xx Cory

This post was proofread by Grammarly