The first draft of the next, annoyingly-still-untitled Benevolence Archives book is very nearly done. At that point, hopefully by the end of the month, there will be a call for alpha readers.
However.
I am aware at the moment that there are problems with the manuscript. Bits I’m not happy with. And another big section that I think it needs that I need to insert but that isn’t going to make it into the first draft. Now, if I choose to do this before I can declare the first draft Done, it’s obviously going to take a while longer, and I may as well call the first draft the First Draft so that I can be done with it and then correct the issues that I already know about in Draft the Second.
Here’s the question: Do I
- Go ahead and send the first draft to alpha readers, knowing that I feel there are issues with the manuscript, mostly to see if the ARs note the same issues that I do?
- Or wait until *I’m* happy with it, which in theory could take a decent chunk of time longer, before I let anyone else’s mitts on it?
I may deliberately hold the Big Section back from alphas, if only so that they have something definitely new to look at when the book launches.
Theories? Answers? Other options I’m overlooking? Let’s yammer.
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I don’t think there are any right answers here. I would make myself happy before sending it out though. Readers dedicate a lot of time to us. I wouldn’t want to send them something I’m not happy with, because I respect their time.
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That’s an interesting way of thinking about it. My thought, while I don’t quite express it in the post itself, was more along the lines of “I think I need to beef up the portrayal of XXX, and a subplot where YYY seems like a good idea,” and I’m looking to see if my early readers also say “I’d like to see more about how XXX happened” before I add another 5000 words of it.
I think people mostly know what they’re getting into when they volunteer to alpha, y’know? And my first-draft prose is cleaner than most, I think, so it’s not as if I’m asking people to slog through a typo-ridden mess. I mostly just want to know if other people perceive the same flaws that I do when they look at the draft.
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That sounds like a reasonable approach to me. Works even better if you know these readers from past experience.
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I tend to agree with coldhand. It’ll never be perfect, but try to satisfy yourself first. I kind of went through this with my newest, now with the beta readers…I don’t think it’s as “good” as my first book, but it’s done (or close to it) just the same. Had to just tell myself different books are going to feel different to me.
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Which is also to Say, if it’s unresolved for you, it will be for readers, too. I believe.
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My thoughts … Does it meet your definition of a First Draft?
If yes, send.
If not, ‘make it so’, and send.
🙂
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I don’t send my first drafts to readers, only my second and later. i’m never happy with the first draft, and I end up with a “hit list” of what I need to fix in the second draft. I then throw that at betas. So that’s my suggestion, since you’re not happy with your first draft in sum.
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How you been, man? I was just thinking the other day that I hadn’t seen you around much lately.
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I’m on the opposite side of the world, so it’s really hard to catch the typical midday rush on Twitter. I’ve been trucking along with writing bit by bit. Darkness Revealed‘s first draft got done in November, and I hated it. This is normal.
Started in on the sequel to Nikolay, and I’m getting the feeling that he is not a short story sort of character. He does novellas and novelettes.
Considering dual-drafting in January between Nikolay itself (a third draft) and Darkness Revealed. I may be slightly crazy. 😉
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Personally I consider a first draft for my eyes only. I don’t want to waste people’s time pointing out problems I already know about. I would want to get it at least close to right before passing it on.
Of course, I don’t currently have ANYONE reading my drafts, so this is all theoretical anyway.
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In this instance I would send it. Sometimes we just need that extra eye – it helps us to focus sometimes. That’s what Alpha readers are for, and if, like me, you’re never happy with the first few drafts, waiting will delay the process even further.
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If it were me, I would go ahead and send it. As you know, authors are their own worse critics. What I usually thought was terrible, my alphas loved. However, if they come up with the same issues as you do then you KNOW you need to fix it. Hope you figure out what to do soon!
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