How long is a second draft?

Compared to my fast first drafts, the second draft is sloooooooow. Anywhere from three to nine months slow. (At least, that feels really, really slow to me.)

What is the difference between first draft and second draft?

First Draft: This is also known as the discovery draft, where all writers write with the objective of getting their ideas on the page. Second Draft: The beginning of the editing phase. Also known as the structural edit, where you work on the global story arc, fill in the plot holes, omit and/or rewrite where needed.

Is it normal for the first draft to be short?

If you only have 2-3 main characters, they can only have so many problems, and your book can only be so long. Now , to answer your question, yes for some people, 1st drafts are much shorter than the final works.

What is a second draft of a novel?

Once you’ve finished your first draft, the first thing to do is go back to the beginning of your manuscript and carefully read through it. The second draft is all about finding surprises along the way and starting to tease out the shape of your story.

How many drafts should a short story have?

There is no proper or ideal number of drafts. A draft means you haven’t completed the story in a form that you feel comfortable with. You might finish your story in one draft or with dozens.

How many drafts should a novel have?

Every writer has a process that works for them. Some swear by three drafts; others proclaim 10 to be the magic number. But the truth is, there is no ‘magic number’. As you develop your own process, consider the genre you’re writing in, your writing experience, and your reason behind why you want to write a novel.

How long should it take to write a first draft of a novel?

Your first draft will be messy, like a paint-splattered wall. It won’t be perfect and ready for publication right way. The first draft process can take anywhere from two weeks to one year, depending on how much time you’ve set aside to write, how long your novel is, and how fast you write.

Is it easy to write a second draft of a novel?

While it’s not easy, the actual writing of a second draft feels much easier than a first. My creative powers can be applied to improving, rather than inventing. I can never predict which chapters will give the most trouble, but there are always 2 or 3 that I do heavy work on, rewriting or reorganizing large portions.

What happens at the end of your second draft?

When you arrive at the end of your second draft, do not be concerned if your word count is less than or the same as your first. Think of your second draft as a second first draft, it is a clearer and different version of your story, there will be some elements to extend, develop and change in your future drafts.

What are the downsides of the first draft writing process?

A downfall of this process is that writers tend to fall into the trap of copying out sentences and not developing the second draft as much as you hoped. If you feel yourself doing this a lot, read ahead in your draft, know where your story is going, close your first draft and write.

How many drafting steps does it take to write a novel?

But if you want a career as an author, hiring a professional editor for a manuscript assessment can be a necessary part of the drafting process. With all this mind, there are generally four drafting steps to write a novel. Within each stage, writers may go through two or three separate drafts, sometimes more.