How should I go about writing my second draft?

Question

I finished the first draft of my novel a few months ago and have recently decided it's time to pick up the manuscript and write the second draft. My problem however is this, should I use the material already written and just edit that and craft it into a better one? i.e use what I have. Or should I start from fresh once more, using the first draft as more of a guide, occasionally copy pasting from it?

Answer 1

Well, you don't rewrite, just to rewrite. Rewrite it if it NEEDS to be rewritten. Otherwise, editing is fine. And the whole thing might not need to be rewritten. You might just need to rewrite some scenes or some parts of scenes. It depends on how much work you think it needs. I don't rewrite, I mostly revise. My point of the first draft is to get the story down from beginning to end and then I go through different levels of editing and add to my, usually, bare bones story.



What I do, is what I think anotehr poster suggested: When I finish the first draft, I use Save As, and save it marked as a second draft. I still have the first draft in it's entirety. Now, I have another version of it saved as the second draft that I'll make changes to. I keep doing this until the manuscript is polished, and my drafts do go into the double digits.



The first thing I do when it's time to edit is read through the whole manuscript again, and make notes in a separate Edit file as I read. I'm actually quite organized when it comes to this, haha.



My edits ALWAYS start with big-picture items (structural and storyline issues). This is also how professional editors handle it. If you start doing copy editing or editing for grammar and changing around sentences, then it could be a complete waste of time, if you decide the scene you've just spent an hour line-editing has no purpose and needs to be deleted. So you don't want to do the line editing and copy editing before you handle the structural issues. Make sure your scenes are in the best possible order and sometimes you might need to combine scenes or delete them or write a new scene to help develop something. Make sure your scenes, plots, and characters are fully developed. And make sure you've covered any plot holes/flaws. before you start the line editing.



There are a lot of books on the market that will help you with editing. I like Editing for Fiction Writers.



Going back to the drafts issue: It's easier for me to go through my manuscript and focus on only 1-2 things. and when that's complete, I Save As a new draft, read the whole thing, make more notes in my Edit file as I read, and then start the editing process again, focusing on another 1-2 aspects. When I actually get into the line editing, I might spend a full draft or two editing out -ly words if I feel I have too much. Then another draft I might spend going through looking for passive voice and knocking that out. though, the first draft is getting the story down - unedited. The second draft is spent on structural issues with the scenes and moving them around, deleting, adding, etc when needed.



Its different for everyone. You might have to experiment with different forms of editing to find which is most convenient and most efficient for you. Good luck with your editing!

Answer 2

1. Start by saving a second copy of your draft. Add "first draft" and "second draft" to the filenames so you can tell them apart. (Or use a version number such as v.1 and v.2.) Leave that first draft copy untouched. If you mess up the second one or ever just want to refer back to the first one, you'll always have a record of it. You can make other copies if you want to.



2. Next, just read and correct the typos in your second draft copy. You mostly want to see how it feels to read it. Make notes of where it's awkward or where things don't work or don't make sense. Once you've read it through, then you can decide whether to fix each part or do a sweeping rewrite.



3. If you can just edit in places, do that. If you want to rewrite from the beginning, it's your choice of whether you want to paste in parts or do to fresh. I would say that unless it's very bad or unless you really feel a clean rewrite would be better, just edit what you have.



4. When you're done, make a copy of that and put "third draft" or "v.3" in the filename. Give it another re-read from beginning to end and make changes to that.

Answer 3

When I create a second draft, I usually save a file for my old draft, copy-paste it over onto another word document(or whatever other program you may have) and start cutting it up. Its usually a depressing process, but you still have the saved original. I often discover MANY cliches and plot holes and ruined scenes that I have to cut out completely and throw away. And while cutting out the bad parts of your draft, you can focus on crafting more detailed or well written scenes than you had before.



But if there's ever a scene that you REALLY liked, but it doesn't fit in with your novel you could also write a short story that centers around a similar scene, for personal enjoyment :D

Answer 4

A 2nd draft, by using definition, comes after the 1st draft. you easily need to attend till the 1st draft is finished in the past you initiate on the 2nd. think you ultimately finally end up writing some thing interior the 1st draft that then desires to be suggested beforehand interior the e book. you have already have been given the 2nd draft a million/2 written by using that component. Now what? What you're doing is mindless. yet, good day, write it from the top backwards to the beginning up in case you desire. What concerns is the top product.

Answer 5

Actually it depends on you. Are you satisfied with the result of your first draft? if so, then you should continue it but if not then start a new one.

And I am giving you some tips to make it successful.

Writing a book or novel is not that easy but knowing the secret how to make it successful will be your weapon to succeed.

You have to consider these "3 Keys How To Write A Book With Ease".

1. KNOW YOUR READER- traditionally, we are writing a book because we have some personal ideas in mind and want to share it with others. We want to share our own ideas, experiences to everybody without thinking if is it what our readers wants, if that is what they need? we focus n ourselves and forgetting the purpose why we are writing and it is for our readers.

2. CREATE A STRUCTURE-make an outline for your book so it would be so easy for you to edit or add any changes.

3. FILL IN THE BLANKS- " the road to someday will leads to a town of nowhere". We always say that I want to write a book someday, if I am ready enough to do it, etc and this will leads us to nowhere. if you want to write a book then start it NOW. this fill in the blanks is somewhat try to imagine yourself as the readers, ask yourself a questions what you want to know, what are your expectations from a book, questions that you think will probably the one that your readers are asking, etc and when you can answer it, you are now aware what are the needs of your readers.



And if you were able to follow this simple steps, then you are in the right track.

Answer 6

Have someone else read it, or simply read through it again and make notes... ive noticed when I write and leave it for a bit, when I reread it, i always see things better and make adjustments accordingly...



Print it all out and have it beside you, read it in bed and again make notes. don't fret about noticing and fixing every mistake for the second draft... you will need loads of drafts to have a final one.



please answer mine :)



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