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How Long Does it Take You to Edit a Novel?

April 30, 2012 by Nathan Bransford 54 Comments

Last week people shared how long it takes you to write a draft. Today: How long does it take you to edit?

This is very much on my mind as I’m back in the editing weeds for Jacob Wonderbar and the Interstellar Time Warp, which I’ve now been editing for over three months. That is typical for me. After doing my own editing after finishing a draft I then usually go through two major rounds with my editor (the fabulous Kate Harrison), and then there’s further tinkering and tweaks from there.

All that adds up to three or four months (with another week or two left to go on this one).

What about you?

Art: Anonymous

Filed Under: The Writing Life Tagged With: Life of a Writer

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Eric says

    May 6, 2012 at 12:29 pm

    I do about 14 read-thrus, chopping here and there, rewriting this and that… One round with my wife and friends. And then maybe 3 more read-thrus to tweak this and that.

    Reply
  2. Darnell Reid says

    May 6, 2012 at 1:49 pm

    It takes me about two revise before I finally get to the final draft. Then I has to do a little more here and there. Then I give it to my editor which she send back for a rewrite then I'm finish.

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    March 9, 2013 at 10:08 pm

    It's been over a year so far for me even though it took less than a year to write the first draft. When I think I'm done narrowing it down and detailing it enough, I find more that needs to be tweaked. Also the when-will-you-be-done-with-that-thing voice in my head (or silently from those around me) doesn't help at all.

    Reply
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Hi, I’m Nathan. I’m the author of How to Write a Novel and the Jacob Wonderbar series, which was published by Penguin. I used to be a literary agent at Curtis Brown Ltd. and I’m dedicated to helping authors achieve their dreams. Let me help you with your book!

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How to Write A Novel
Cover of How to Publish a Book by Nathan Bransford
Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapo
Jacob Wonderbar for President of the Universe
Jacob Wonderbar and the Interstellar Time Warp

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