The Iron Path, book twelve of The Iron Soul series, is finally in the final editing stage! I finished the first draft of this book back in early 2020, almost two years ago, and was very excited as it marked the completion of the penultimate book in The Iron Soul series. When I began writing book twelve, I wasn’t sure if the story would be one or two books. I knew the elements that needed to be explored, but wanted to see how the pacing would develop and what changes would occur. In the end, I slowed down the plot a little to allow for more character moments and exploration of the larger worlds that my characters had entered.
Throughout writing the first draft, I have a first reader who reads. Before they receive chapters, I run them through an initial software edit to catch any easy to notice problems. The first reader comments to me regarding pacing, dialogue, and isn’t sitting right. This early feedback allows me to rewrite chapters immediately while the ideas are still fresh if something isn’t working. Occasionally, I’ve changed a story or even started over, depending on this immediate feedback.
After finishing the first draft, I set the book aside for at least six months while I work on another project. This time away allows me to cleanse the book from my mind and let my memory become unclear. At this point, I do the first edit and make any plot adjustments that I determine I need. This may also include adding foreshadowing notes into earlier chapters, but as a plotter, I usually have those in the first draft. Still, I frequently catch places where I used the wrong word and adjust paragraphs or chapters at this stage.
The second draft then goes to the first editor other than me, who reviews for misused words, basic grammar, and inconsistencies which can include character positions and actions within a chapter. After they review the book, I go through their suggested edits and make changes as needed. I also run the chapters through a second software editor to help catch anything else that human eyes have missed.
Last, the book goes to another editor who searches for anything that I, the first editor, and the software have missed. It can be alarming how many things the final editor finds at this stage, but it highlights how easy it is to become pulled into a story or stop noticing errors after spending a lot of time focusing on looking for them. As the final editor finishes their edits, I give everything one final review and start putting the book together for release. The Iron Path is currently being transitioned from me to the final editor. I’m very excited to release the book this coming summer solstice!