Jennifer
asked
Shaun David Hutchinson:
What is your editing process after a first draft? I've read that you've done more than eight drafts on some pieces, what are the first things you tackle? Also, what writing program do you use?
Shaun David Hutchinson
It definitely varies by book. Some books are easier than others. Some are WAY more difficult.
Usually, once I'm done with the first draft, I pick it apart to see what's working and what's not. If there's a lot of stuff not working, I toss the draft and try again. I do that so that I don't become too attached to what I've already written (as becoming too attached can make it harder to let go of things that need to be cut). And then I just keep rewriting it over and over until I'm happy. Sometimes, like with We Are the Ants, I had the emotional journey and character arcs down, but it took me multiple drafts to figure out the plot. With my next book (The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza), I had the plot down but couldn't figure out the emotional journey. I ended up writing one version that focused on plot and one version that focused on the character arcs, and then I merged them together.
I do the majority of my writing in a program called Byword. It's a simple, no-fuss text editor. When I'm happy with a draft and ready to revise (rather than rewrite) I work in Word.
Usually, once I'm done with the first draft, I pick it apart to see what's working and what's not. If there's a lot of stuff not working, I toss the draft and try again. I do that so that I don't become too attached to what I've already written (as becoming too attached can make it harder to let go of things that need to be cut). And then I just keep rewriting it over and over until I'm happy. Sometimes, like with We Are the Ants, I had the emotional journey and character arcs down, but it took me multiple drafts to figure out the plot. With my next book (The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza), I had the plot down but couldn't figure out the emotional journey. I ended up writing one version that focused on plot and one version that focused on the character arcs, and then I merged them together.
I do the majority of my writing in a program called Byword. It's a simple, no-fuss text editor. When I'm happy with a draft and ready to revise (rather than rewrite) I work in Word.
More Answered Questions
Edgar Alonso
asked
Shaun David Hutchinson:
Fisrt of all, thank you. You are an amazing writer and I would love to read more from you. I noticed an Easter egg in We are the ants when Henry enters Diego's bedroom and he owns an issue of "Patient F". Does that mean that Andrew Brawley and Henry Denton lives in the same universe, just in different time lines? Or it is just an Easter egg? Saludos desde México
Karissa
asked
Shaun David Hutchinson:
In the Five Stages of Andrew Bradley, did Drew have any similarity to yourself??
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