This section is for writers who have a great new idea, but are not quite sure how to go about writing a book. These are the things I focus on for different story drafts, how I find beta readers, and editors, right up to the final page of my book. Please note, this will not tell you HOW to write a book, but simply the objectives for each step of writing your book.
In each module, I will provide a list of potentially helpful resources, as well as software recommendations (if applicable) and what I use.
When it comes to the second draft, hopefully, you have a fair bit stronger of an idea for your story. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but this is where you would like to flesh out as much of the idea as you can.
Now, if you have made notes of what you would like to add while you wrote your first draft, now is the time to implement those ideas into your second draft. You might just instinctively remember the ideas, and sometimes I do, but it’s always good to have them written down. Then you will open up your first draft and have it on the right side of your screen. Next, you open up a new blank document…and you REWRITE.
You hear so many people say it, and for good reason. The last thing you want to do is simply try and edit your trash first draft to make it work. It gets messy, makes no sense, and ignores all the improvements you’ve made as a writer. So I will say it again, I strongly recommend you REWRITE your second draft, from page one to page end. Of course, this time you will find it going much smoother because you now have a basis of knowledge for your book. You know what it’s about, what the goals are, what the story beats are, and can now use foreshadowing, or other writing strategies to make a more compelling story with that knowledge. I know it’s daunting, but rewriting, instead of trying to simply edit will always result in a better story. However, that isn’t to say you can’t steal some amazing lines you wrote from the first draft, it’s not all bad after all.
