Writing Stack Exchange
Writing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [first-draft]

The first complete version of a work.

The first complete version of a work. Almost always very rough and in need of significant edits. The first draft is generally about getting your ideas down on paper so you can see them and have actual building blocks to move around and polish. For discovery writers (aka "pantsers"), the first draft also includes going over the work to retrofit a clear structure, since by definition discovery writers start writing without detailed plan or outline.

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So I finished my novel. Now what do I do?

A few days ago I finished the first draft of my current novel project after a few months of work, finishing at 83,212 words. Now what should I do with it? So obviously I need to edit it. Should I jump in right away with the editing? Should I let it…
JSBձոգչ
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Act 3 totally broken...keep writing?

I'm ready to enter the final act, Act 3, of my (first big) story and by now I'm pretty sure I'll have to rewrite 50-70% in ACT 1 and 2. I outlined the whole story but it is clear that my main hero is boring, his motivations (and story arc) change…
Tim Dams
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How to add depth to writing - turn a story into a book

I've had a few 'great ideas' for books. I'm a big sci-fi fan, especially Michael Crichton. I'm not sure if that's relevant but there it is. I want to write a full length book, not a short story, a full length hundreds of pages long book. I draw up a…
user6916458
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How rough should a rough draft be

For a long time I would edit chapters as I wrote them, to make them as complete as possible. Unfortunately this often resulted in me running out of steam and never actually finishing them. I've recently started trying to allow myself to write…
Michael B
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In What Way are Most First Drafts Bad?

I've heard from a lot of people - both on this site and elsewhere - that your first draft will be terrible. Some even say that you will barely use any of it. This has me wondering: What about the first draft is so bad? Is it that the wording will…
Thomas Reinstate Monica Myron
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What should my redraft phase entail?

I've been reading Stephen King's On Writing and he's got quite a lot to say about the redraft phase. He explains his working method. Write with the door closed, just for him and create a 1st draft as quickly as possible Put the book in a drawer and…
Liath
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What are First Drafts, Second Drafts, etc.?

I've been reading a few questions on this site, and I've seen the terms First, Second or Third Drafts. What does this refer to actually? And could someone give a clear detail of what they are, and why specifically three drafts?
Fikko3107
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1000 words a day for a part-time writer

I've got a 40h, full-time job, as many do. Yet I'd like to become a writer someday, or at least, bring a novel through the first draft. This considered, I'm trying to give myself a daily target of 1000 words to write each day at least. I'm starting…
Liquid
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Is the first draft of a novel usually shorter than the finished work?

I finished the first draft of a novel I'm writing. Right now, it has 17000 words. I've heard that novels these days range from 60,000 to 150,000 words, so I'm a little bit worried (I'm hoping to have 200~300 pages). Is this normal? (I didn't stop…
wyc
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What to do with my odd-length work?

I've just about finished up the first draft of a piece of work I've put a good deal of love into. It's genre fiction (paranormal/supernatural horror/urban fantasy/whatever they're calling it this week), and I want to go back and put in a couple…
Yamikuronue
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Submitting a partially complete draft?

I'm 50,000 words into my first book. Based on my plot and roadmap, that's about 25% of the way into it, so about 200k. I have roughly 110 pages in a good place, as I've already re-drafted three or four times, polishing it up to get it ready for…
kmunky
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Publishing fiction: when do I start looking for an agent?

I am just about finished with the first draft of a novel I've been working on. I've been writing novels for about ten years and I've self-published a couple, but I'm looking to peek into the world of "real" publishing. I've been struggling to find…
Marie
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Is a Critique Group More Often Helpful or Not When Writing a First Draft?

I am currently writing my first draft, and also happen to be in a critique group. It's my understanding a first draft is going to have lots of issues. This is where I am confused. While a critique group can offer some useful advice, can it also be…
Perry_M
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How To Beef Up The Middle

I feel that in any book I read or write, the most common problem I encounter is a drag in the middle of the book. What are some suggestions of how to stay on target and intrigue my reader in the middle of a novel so that by the time they get to the…
Rhettmartens
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How can I make my 'first draft' good enough to be published?

One of my bugbears about writing is the editing process. I'd much rather get it right first time, rather than chop this and change that afterwards. Other industries would not tolerate the rather curious approach writers have to the craft. Imagine a…
robertcday
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