That's interesting. (I've tried plotting, but it wasn't right for me.) Do you find yourself doing "drafts" of the plotting stage before you start with the words?
OP - My first draft or two tend to be not just rewrites, they're total re-visioning. I only come to understand what the idea behind the book is on the second or third draft. Which then becomes an almost fresh start. After that though, it's just edits and polishings.
(I don't say it's an efficient way to work, but it keeps me writing which is all that I ask of it
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It is interesting. I pantsed my first novel (unpublished) ... it ended up somewhere around 250 K words and wandered all over the place.
Since then I've modified my process at the beginning of every new project by considering what worked and what didn't in the last. And yes - there are drafts of the plot. I usually know the ending of the story before I figure out how it begins. Then I look at what has to happen between those two points. I start coarse - basically sections (Part 1, 2, etc.) and I look at the people that are playing various roles. Then I take those sections and look at the character's journey, and create rough chapters (just names usually). Finally, I create 8-12 bullet points for scenes within the chapter.
The characters come next (I already know who the major ones are). I write their description, short bios, and phrases they will frequently use.
Finally, I spend several weeks combing through the plot, adding and deleting scenes, etc. Then I start writing, and "gray out" plot points as I work through them.
Oh - but that's not the end.
I write everything in order, and as most everyone here has probably experienced, characters have a tendency to misbehave. Some also disappear and new ones show up. My plot is just a general guide to keep me on course, so, before starting in on the next chapter I'll take a couple hours to go through the plot points I'll be writing to.
That's probably confusing... but the process works for me. We're each unique individuals - so we need to find our own way.
One more thing. (A weird story, but it's kinda related).
I started training in Savate (a French martial art) when I was 5 years old. My instructor was an artist - a painter - and was successful enough that he supported his family that way. He warned me that there will be periods in my training where I felt bad about my performance - as if I were slipping backwards; losing skill rather than gaining it. I'll ever forget his explanation and guidance. He said:
In all art, there are two factors, your eye, and your hand, but they do not progress at the same rate. Your hand will improve first, and when you see your art you will be happy, but then your eye improves, surpassing your hand, and suddenly everything you create looks horrible - and you will be tempted to give up. Don't. In time you will progress through many of these stages. Never give up. Perfection doesn't exist. He mentioned the Mona Lisa - which DaVinci held onto until he died, continually striving to make it perfect. Art must live in the world, so do your best then set it free, and know that others aren't likely to see the imperfections that seem so glaring to you.