Think your draft is done? Think again 🤔
Today's guest is author Ahmad Saber
In book writing, progress often looks like repetition.
Editing isn’t a single item you check off your to-do list and move on from. Drafts are rewritten, restructured, and revised — often more than once. You think you’re finished, and then the story needs more from you.
Revisions can be draining. Discouraging at times. But as an editor, I truly believe they’re where the magic happens.
Revision means your story has potential.
Having somewhere to take your draft means the foundation is strong enough to be worth refining. You know the book can be better, sharper, and more emotionally resonant.
And guess what? It’s worth the investment. I promise.
But don’t take it from me!
In today’s interview, author Ahmad Saber reminds us that revision isn’t failure and why it’s important to stay present through the process.
OUR SPECIAL GUEST TODAY IS…
Ahmad Saber
Author
Debut novel available now: Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions
What’s been the toughest moment in your publishing journey, and how did you get through it?
I cannot explain how much editing I’ve had to do myself first, then hit-and-trial with multiple agent rejections, two R&Rs, then signing with an agent and doing 3 major rounds of revision with him before that offer came from an editor!
You’d think that was the end of it, right? Wrong.
I had to then edit at least 3 more major rounds over 2 years AFTER the offer signing before it was accepted for publication! So yes, it’s tough, but we’re all on the same team with a common objective: write the best book we can for our readers to have an unforgettable reading experience!
What’s one thing about the publishing process no one tells you, but should?
That your self-worth and mental health are NOT tied to getting an agent, getting a big publisher, the advance amount, the marketing priority, the pre-order numbers, or the sales figures and awards.
Unfortunately, these are mostly self-inflicted sources of anxiety. Your story is important and will find its audience no matter how big or small, but that is in no way a reflection of your worth as a person.
What’s the best piece of feedback you ever received? How did it change your story?
The best piece of feedback I’ve ever received was from the agent who eventually signed me on as a client: “The building blocks are there, now let’s do Jenga on it and re-arrange it all!” It led to the most marvelous and unexpected plot changes while keeping the DNA of my story the same.
What part of the writing process brings you the most joy?
For me, this has to be getting to know the characters and capturing emotions on the page! It’s like an exploration of what makes us human and what matters in life. The joy comes when I get feedback that a reader laughed, or cried, or threw up a fist in frustration while reading the book. This means the immersion was real!
Ready for feedback that takes your story to the next level?
“I have greatly benefitted from my collaboration with Alyssa; I would not be where I am today without her! Her developmental ideas and vision for my novel taught me so much and helped to elevate my work in highly effective ways. Her editorial fingerprint is evident in the final result—a novel on bookshelves nationwide.”
—Jill Beissel, author of Glitter and Gold
What is the most memorable writing tip or technique that you have heard, and how did it influence your process?
In my experience, inspiration comes in waves that can’t be predicted or controlled, so I recommend writing down any lines of dialogue, quirky character traits, catchy names, or plot pieces that come to you in a large document while writing your book.
You’d be surprised how much your subconscious mind wants to help you out by sending you “revelations.”
ICYMI…last week on YouTube, I analyzed People We Meet on Vacation and The Housemaid to identify the plot trick that bestselling authors use to make their books unputdownable.
I haven't yet began rewriting my draft novella maybe because I know I will get lost. I have rewritten short stories so many times before I said that's it, they're done only to keep going back to them until they are really done. And I keep writing the next short story because I am frightened to get to the long manuscript precisely for the overwhelming process. Your content is an oasis in this obscure publishing world.