Rewriting: When Should You Stop?
Over the past few months, I’ve worked with a number of clients who, for one reason or another, needed the work I did for them rewritten. This often had nothing to do with the quality of my work. Sometimes their editors requested something different. Sometimes the client realized they wanted to go in a different direction with the piece. At the same time, I’ve been revising my own work and polishing drafts of my books as part of the querying process. Just about every day, I see other writers talking about how many drafts they’ve gone through and how they can’t let it go. It all raises one question: When you’re rewriting, when should you stop?
There are a few clues it’s time to stamp “done” on a manuscript, regardless of whether that means publishing or not.
1. The rewriting changes but doesn’t improve the draft.
Does it really matter if you write “dirty” instead of “soiled”? Not always. You’ll reach a point where your changes really are just a matter of personal preference. At this stage, you don’t change the meaning of what you are composing in a way that’s memorable. Similarly, just because you could include something doesn’t mean you have to. If the draft doesn’t flow or feel better because of the changes you’re making, wrap things up.
2. The ROI is dwindling.
Whether you write fiction, website copy, or anything else, you generally want to get your drafts done in the least amount of time necessary to create excellent quality. Doing so will ensure a higher hourly rate. Do the math. Then decide when continuing on the draft likely will mean a rate that’s not economically feasible for you. It’s never great to scrap a project. But sometimes it’s better to do that and move on to something that will produce better income. If you’re writing for a client, that very well might mean dropping them.
3. The draft doesn’t feel like yours anymore.
This is a big one for fiction writers, who constantly take in recommendations from beta readers, agents, and editors. Another set of eyes often can improve your draft, revealing holes and biases. But when others put you under so much pressure to change the manuscript that it feels like you’ve lost control of it, it might be time to step back and draw some boundaries before making any additional changes.
4. Others tell you to stop rewriting.
The curse of being a writer is that you probably want your draft to be perfect. It’s your baby. It’s normal to worry that maybe if you just tweaked this or that (again), you’d be more ready or feel more satisfied. But there are always a million roads you could go down. Trust the professional expertise of others in the business. If they tell you the draft can stand, let it stand unless there’s something foundational you’ve identified that needs shifting.
5. You’ve lost joy.
Rewriting should energize you, as it’s supposed to mean your manuscript is getting better. But if you’ve been at the draft for so long you can’t see straight and are tired of the project, you’re likely not going to do your best work. At the very least, set the manuscript aside for a set amount of time. When you have new ideas for it and the project feels right to you again, you can come back to it.