It happened again. That rush of adrenaline, that deep satisfaction, that sense of having completed something substantial… I finished a first draft of a book! Three hundred thirty-four pages. Roughly 85,000 words. A stack of paper two inches high. "I did something!" I muttered to myself. Then sat back and smiled.
This is my book on climate change.
Ok, I admit it's not a great photo, but dang it, I'm proud of the work. It took about eighteen months, not uncommon for good non-fiction books. And the writing was rewarding. I wrestled with ideas, argued with readers of essays and excerpts, and over time changed my mind because I was learning as I wrote. Challenges are good that way—they make you think. I have Medium.com to thank for the challenges and the discussion.
If you are a non-fiction writer working on a book, I can’t recommend Medium.com highly enough. Once you get to at least 100 followers and join the Partner Program, you can publish in most of their publications and get feedback on your ideas. Most readers are deeply thoughtful, and many are writers like yourself. It provides a kind of microcosm in which you can test ideas, see how they work, hone them, and try again. Publishing ideas on Medium will only make your book better. If you decide to join Medium.com, please use my membership link, as it will help support my work. Membership is a whopping $5 a month, and for me at least, worth every penny and then some.
During the first draft, I always find that I learn as I write. I hone ideas and change my mind as more information comes in. I respond to comments and this gives rise to new ideas and perspectives. “Hmmm, I hadn’t thought of it that way before,” is a common under-the-breath comment. That’s a joy. It’s why I write.
The real work, of course, is just beginning. Most of the discovery phase is over, and now it is a matter of making sure the text conveys what I want it to convey. In a word: editing. Editing, which I mostly dread, will now become the dominant work. There may be some additional sharpening of ideas in the clarification process, but for the most part, this is now about effective communication. That’s how the process works.
I know all that is coming, but for now, I just want to enjoy it. A mini celebration and a self-honoring are in order.
Remember that when you finish your own first draft. Honor it, celebrate it, and then get to work to finish it.
Write On!
Anthony Signorelli
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To read more of my original work, try my books! All are on Amazon and published by various small presses.