I believe I heard this way back in 1999 or 2000. The last ten years blurs whenever I consider that I've actually worked at this for ten years, sitting down back in October 1997 to tackle a novel. I was only 34 at the time, but that was my mid-life crisis. I had to write, I had to finish something, anything, because I'd never finished any story prior to then. That I picked a novel only shows how clueless I was back then. Yet, I still like what I created. What I learned from the experience was that I could finish.
First, there's the original draft, where I throw in all the pieces that come to mind. It's the fractal draft stage. Second, the first rewrite, which might or might not come after I make it all the way through the original draft; I pare down and simplify, trying to make the words flow smoothly, looking for any threads that need tucking or expansion. Third, the second rewrite, where I go back through and add back in some of the stuff I chucked in the first rewrite, trying to make the prose ring.
Whether that will work on the next novel or not is a question for the future. Wolfe shows genius pinning down this concept. At least I know I can make it through a second time, notwithstanding the 16 other pieces I've written (novels and shorter works) in the intervening years since I started.
I certainly believe the next novels will see more planning and architectural work done at the beginning. I'm looking forward to Context at month's end, because I think the seminar with Tim Powers will help me with that. I also believe treating a novel (or any work) as a three-stage process will make me faster. One of the rules I developed to guide myself is "get the story written, then get it right."
So, onward and upward. Muse has a lengthy list of work:
a) rewrite "Sacrifices" and submit
b) rewrite "Tigerfly" ending and submit
c) plot out Aftermath sequel
d) plot out Shale fantasy
e) submit Only The Dead and/or find beta readers for it or vice versa