First Draft to Finished Manuscript

TOPIC: Getting from First Draft to a Finished Manuscript

In some ways, the first draft is the "easy part." You ride a wave of passion and gallons of coffee to surpass that 80,000-word minimum, and now you have a complete story. But you're not done.

How do you get from that first burst of inspiration to a manuscript ready to shop around to publishers (or self-publish)? Let's discuss.

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Writing a book is usually a solitary experience, whether you are hard-bitten professional or a neurotic novice. But who says you can't compare notes?

Everyone knows the basics of telling a story, but creating a book, screenplay or event a short story requires learning the craft of putting words together, creating a narrative, working within a genre, and building interesting characters.

This event is a way to share your experiences, see what others are doing, and understanding that we all struggle with writing sometimes. None of us are alone.

Be prepared to discuss projects you are currently writing, and the challenges inherent in them.

We won't be reading works aloud. Here we'll primarily be discussing what's working for you, and what isn't. We'll share experiences and talk shop. Bring what you have learned, and always maintain your sense of humor.

(FYI: Writing is building a birdhouse -- not comparing plumage, or discussing the migration patterns of the African swallow. No dilettantes, please.)

Note: You don't have to be in New York to join. You just need a Zoom account. However, some future events may take place in person in a NYC cafe.

Each event will discuss aspects of the writer's life. If you have suggestions for a topic, please let us know.

Hope to see you there.

DETAILS

This event is FREE. To avoid trolls, the Zoom link will be added to this page 30 minutes before the event starts.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

Tom was the managing online editor for Backstage magazine for more than a decade. Prior to that, he learned his craft as a writer/editor at science, entertainment and business publications such as TV Guide, Ladies Home Journal, and Individual Investor. In his twenties, he did lighting as a grip/electric on movies, commercials and TV projects in the NYC area.

During the last decade, he has been working as a freelance copywriter. More recently, he also set up shop as an ESL teacher for adult professionals.

Tom just completed his first novel, and is in the thick of edits and re-writes. More books are being developed.

He currently lives in Brooklyn, and is probably planning his next travel destination. (Assuming he can afford it.)