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first drafts, second drafts & beyond


Starting to write a book is a lot like learning to ride a bike (which is a tired analogy but the picture was cute so just roll with it, k?). There's really no place to begin but the beginning. And beginnings are full of stumbles and falls while you learn. Once you learn to do something, it gets easier, but falls are still totally possible.


The amount of drafts required to write a novel was something I was completely clueless about (along with the bigger how of how to even write a book, but another thought for another day). There are plenty of people with ideas on ways in which to approach your first draft, second draft and beyond. Some advice really resonated, some didn't, so I mostly scrapped together what I liked and didn't, to form my general outline for drafts. *Drumroll* BIG reveal below on that thought process.


  1. I read somewhere that draft one is like throwing paint at a canvas and seeing what sticks. I've never considered throwing paint at a canvas before, but I also thought it sounded super smart for a first draft. And, that's exactly what I did: wrote every day, getting it all out there. I didn't look back and re-read what I'd written, I didn't check for plot holes or fill in any details. I just kept going until it was all done and out there and a bit of a mess but maybe something beautiful existed in that mess...What next?

  2. My first second draft! This has been a doozy. I also read in my draft research that the second draft is where the magic happens. It's where your story comes alive. About 75% of the way through my second draft, I can confirm that this is completely true. This is where everything gets real (which is also pretty overwhelming). Where characters become more than one dimensional, where themes are explored and a vision becomes a living, breathing story. It's also where you get to know your story better.

  3. What's next? A second second draft. I went into my second draft looking at a paint splattered mess. Perhaps, you can avoid that, but alas I did not. I knew it'd take more than one second draft to fix all that I wanted fixed. So, I made a plan for my first second draft, to better round out my characters and fill in all major plot holes with plenty of details. My plan for the second second draft is to further refine the characters and dialogue, and add the bits of magic I want Luna, the other characters and her world to have. I've held off on exploring it too much up till now, and I'm really excited for that next draft.

  4. I'm hopeful that after the second second draft I'll be able to move on to the third draft. Where I intend to get feedback from dedicated friends and family.

That's really it. I promise I won't say second second draft again or *gasp* third second draft because it all sounds weird. But hopefully some of this info helps. And, if it doesn't, because you've got your own plan, I'd love to hear what works for you!

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