Roland Smith's Writing Process

Roland Smith, an author of several book series, discusses the writing process, emphasizing the importance of revision. He explains that all books start as 'sloppy copies' or rough drafts, which are initially poor in quality. Smith writes his drafts in small notebooks for portability and later transfers them to a computer for easier revision. He highlights that no book is perfect in its first few drafts and that revision is the key to improving writing. The process involves multiple revisions, including feedback from editors and collaborators, to refine the work.

Who is Roland Smith?

• A renowned scientist

• An author of several book series

• A professional athlete

• A famous chef

What is the 'sloppy copy' in writing?

• The final version of a book

• A rough draft that is often imperfect

• A published manuscript

• A collection of notes

Why does Roland Smith use a small notebook for writing?

• It is more affordable

• It is portable and convenient

• It has more pages

• It is waterproof

How many notebooks does it typically take to write a novel?

• One

• Two

• Three to four

• Five to six

How does Roland Smith describe the initial rough drafts?

• Perfect

• Published

• Complete

• Horrible

What is the first step in Roland Smith's writing process?

• Publishing the book

• Writing in a small notebook

• Typing on a computer

• Consulting with an editor

What does Roland Smith emphasize about the first few drafts?

• They are usually bad

• They are always perfect

• They are not necessary

• They are ready for publication

What happens to the words in the notebook after they are written?

• They are published immediately

• They are revised in the notebook

• They are typed into a computer for revision

• They are discarded

Why is it easier to revise on a computer?

• Computers have spell check

• Computers are faster

• Computers allow for easier editing and organization

• Computers are more reliable

What does Roland Smith do after transferring the notebook content to the computer?

• He publishes the book

• He starts revising the content

• He discards the notebook

• He sends it to the editor