The revision is going a bit slow, but I am making progress. Which is the important part. Anyway, I have been thinking about what I do during the various drafts, and thought I would list them here.
First draft:
Get the story down. This draft is riddled with plot holes, telling and awkward writing.
Second draft:
Fix the plot holes and the telling.
Send the draft to a Beta reader or two, so that they can point out the weak spots that I missed.
Third draft:
Fixing the awkward writing, adding descriptions, etc. Basically remove the telling. It isn’t uncommon for me to add 5-10 000 words in this stage.
Send draft to editor or another beta reader. ( Depending on length of the story.)
Fourth draft:
Fix all the things that beta reader or editor noticed.
Send to copy editor
Fifth draft:
Polish, polish, polish.