Debbie B. answered 06/03/19
Manuscript Editor/former business journal and lifestyle editor
I don't count and couldn't tell you how many **drafts** I had for my first novel. I only know it needed a lot of work from start to finish, and that hiring an editor was invaluable! I mix it up and work on it digitally, then print it out at Staples or Office Max and find a quiet, new environment to read it through. It's not a science where 3 is the magic number; just know that there will be more work than you think but the rewards will be great when your work is polished and ready for prime time!