Step One Is Done, But What Now?

So you’ve finished the first draft of your manuscript–congratulations! It’s an exciting set in the writing process that deserves to be recognized. That being said, you’re not done yet. There are a few more steps that need to happen, and it takes time to take your rough draft from where it is to where it's going.

The First Draft Is The Rough Draft

There’s a reason for peer reviews in creative writing classes, and it’s not just to share your work or make you feel vulnerable. Peer reviews point out where the story needs help and where it stands strong. Your first draft is also known as your rough draft, and it’s not a coincidence. It's the raw form of your writing, and it needs time to sit and marinate before the final preparations (which could be a few more drafts away).

With a rough draft, there’s still a lot left to do. You’ve completed the most monumental step: writing it all down. From here, it gets easier (or at least it should) because this draft is the framework for the final piece. You’re one step closer, and you’re on the right track. That being said, it doesn't mean the second or even the third draft will be ready. The rough draft needs time to simmer so that you can turn it into something amazing soon!

Editing Enhances Everything

Once you finish writing, what then? The next step is editing. It’s time to go back to the very beginning and read. Even if you’ve been doing edits along the way every few chapters, which comes highly recommended to ensure the tone is consistent, a fresh start at the beginning is where the real magic happens.

The goal is not to get through your first draft without changing anything—if you’ve done that, you’ve acquired some type of magic—but to change anything that doesn’t fit. Look for grammatical errors, typos, sentence fragments, etc. You may also discover details you included that were meant to be significant but were left as loose ends. Editing cleans these up, which overall, makes your writing that much stronger.

Time Will Tell

Once you’ve done your edits, are you ready to publish? Nope! Now it’s time to play the waiting game. Why? The hype of finishing the manuscript’s first draft is similar to rose-tinted glasses. With those glasses, your work looks flawless, but when you take them off, you can see every flaw and opportunity for growth.

The recommended wait time is anywhere from 2-6 weeks. That might seem like a long time, and you might be tempted to choose the smallest timeframe to speed up your work. Don’t. Take time to reflect on what you need. Time away from your manuscript will allow you to breathe, reset, and come back to your own work with (somewhat) fresh eyes.

When you come back, it’s time to read through it again. If you’re going “Ugh, I have to read this again?” there is a problem. What does it say about your writing if the author doesn’t want to read it? The goal is to go back, make more edits, and then begin your second draft. Remember that the end goal with the final draft is to read through it and forget that you’re the one that wrote it.

Putting It All Together

Writing your first draft is an amazing step, but it’s not the end of the journey. The waiting game begins, as do the rounds of editing that will refine your book. It can be a painful step for those who are eager to publish, but remember that this is a vital step that must be taken to ensure your writing is well received.

Be patient, be persistent, and be prepared. Happy writing!