While I write, I also read.  Usually, I have two or three books going at anyone time.  Yesterday, I finished a very good book called Get That Novel Started (And Keep It Going ‘Til You Finish) by Donna Levin.  While I did not need it to get started, the Quill Sisters have already done that, it is filled with extremely good information to keep you going.  By far, CHAPTER 11 is a must read, even if you don’t read the rest of the book.  I do not hesitate to say that this chapter – The Joys of Second (and Third, and Fourth) Drafts – is profound!  It caused me to cut over 1500 hundred words from my first eight chapters and rewrite them for the better.  Ms. Levin discusses drafts, cliches, deja vu, flashbacks, etc.  This information really opened my eyes in a few short pages and has already dramatically improved my writing skills and manuscript.  Happy writing!