How Many Drafts of Your Novel Should You Write?

Is there a perfect number to stop working on your novel?

Just like an essay, your novel will take you more than one draft before it’s ready to be considered complete, but how many drafts should you go through before it’s time to put down the pen?

Some writers swear by a ten-step revision process while others believe three is the magic number, but I’ll be honest…

There is no perfect number.

The amount of drafts your novel is going to need is going to depends on you, your writing skills, and your ability to let go.

I haven’t had a single novelist friend who told me they ever believed their book was 100% done and perfect when it finally left their hands for the last time. They thought maybe it needed more tweaking or another round of line edits, or their characters needed new names.

They had a hard time letting go of their child, not ready for it to face the harsh realities of the world without making sure it was fully prepared.

Here’s my answer for how many drafts you should be writing of your novel before it’s time to send it off to the world. This process works for me but may need adjusting to work best for you.

First Draft/Fast Draft