Over at Smart Bitches the other day, Sarah asked about first drafts…how many drafts, how you polish, etc.

I’m curious-do writers ever feel they’ve finished polishing? I never do.

I’m doing another pass through Chains right now as I wrap it up and I got to thinking…I think I probably go through a book a good five times before I mail it off.

I almost always start at the beginning and sometimes, for me, the start of an idea is no more than a few words or just a single image. The Missing was like that. The first thing that came to mind with that story was a child sitting in an airport. I woke up with that idea in my head one morning and the rest of the idea evolved from there.

Other than Hunters Heart and Soul and Through the Veil, I don’t generally do outlines, although I make notes and stuff if a good idea comes while I’m writing.

As I write, I tend to go back over what I’ve written, smoothing this, polishing that. This probably happens about three times total before I finish. Then after I finish it up, I send it off to a reader or two who help me with proofing. Getting it back, I go through it another couple of times.

And still, I find errors. I find small things I missed or things I think I could improve upon.

Only thing I’ve got to say is…thank God for spell check…