Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

MN writers/wannabe writers - second and subsequent drafts

42 replies

Kathyis6incheshigh · 22/08/2007 11:24

Dunno what I am really trying to ask here... maybe just looking for a pep talk?

I had a brilliant time writing the first draft of my story and now I'm struggling with the second. Thing is, this draft I'm going through and tidying up and making it consistent, checking details and incorporating research and smoothing out the writing. Then it will need a third draft when I go through and take out the excessively blatant research again. And only then can I actually let someone read it and ask their opinion.

So how many drafts am I going to need? And it it normal for the rewriting to take so, so much longer than the initial writing?

Would any other wannabe novelists like to join me on a support thread?!

OP posts:

ska · 25/08/2007 09:17

someone i know got an agent by emailing them a link to their work - first 3 chapters was what he then asked for plus synopsis. try agents who act for people you like/are 'similar' to your writing?

BandofMothers · 25/08/2007 09:23

Often they only have the first 3 chapters to go on and a summary of the rest of it, isn't that right.

If you send it off, they will help you edit it, if they like it
Rather than you perfecting it and them wanting to redo it anyway after all your effort.

Original poster

Kathyis6incheshigh · 26/08/2007 20:20

I think I will try to get the first 3 chapters as perfect as poss then send it off somewhere. I don't think there's any point in stinting on the effort at this stage as long as it doesn't become so paralysing that I spend the next few years rewriting and never dare to send it off anywhere.

Agents v publishers - undecided there but will probably try both (not at the same time) and see what happens.

thanks all.

OP posts:

NKF · 26/08/2007 20:37

I think agents are still the way to go. Many publishers often don't have time to read unsolicited manuscripts. It should be as good as you can make it but you still need to be willing to make changes.

ahundredtimes · 26/08/2007 20:45

Finish it Kathy.

Finish the whole thing as well as you can. Do five drafts if that is what it takes. Then call the sixth your First Draft and send to an agent.

Don't muck about with just getting the first three chapters in shape. Do the whole thing.

Original poster

Kathyis6incheshigh · 26/08/2007 20:53

LOL. This is so Mumsnet - you get a consensus and then someone else comes along.

Do you speak from bitter experience when you say 'five drafts if that's what it takes?'

OP posts:

ahundredtimes · 26/08/2007 20:59

You're writing your book because you want to write it, ultimately. So what happens if you get no takers on the first three chapters? Do you not bother?

No. Finish it. Get it in good shape, resist the urge to talk about it and get everybody to read the first 50 pages. Work hard.

ahundredtimes · 26/08/2007 21:00

I am very stern about this.

Original poster

Kathyis6incheshigh · 27/08/2007 09:21

Thank you for pep talk! (that was what I was really looking for when I started this thread - the other helpful stuff has just been a bonus.)
Fortunately it is back up to speed again after my midweek low on Wednesday. I am working very hard Ahundredtimes!

Yes I am ultimately writing it for me.

OP posts:

Nightynight · 19/10/2007 23:33

How's it going, Kathy?
just saw this thread, but my 2d's worth; I wrote the first draft in 6 weeks back in 2004, and have been working on it ever since. 1st 3 chapters are v strong, and I am working on the middle section at the moment.

Clarinet60 · 01/11/2007 09:47

Just to add - I would think I was doing very well indeed if I managed to knock something out after only 3 drafts. 15 is more like it, in my case! All the advice you've had has been great.

I've got to 3rd base with an agent and found them very helpful, and fast. The one I approached told me not to send anything out until it was completely finished, but that's just one opinion.

aikigypsy · 02/11/2007 16:52

I just saw this thread, since I haven't looked at the book club section of MN in months. From everything I've heard, the manuscript should be finished before sending out to anyone. I always think that mine are just right when I send them out, although I often feel differently a year later, and am ready for another rewrite.

I've been working on a fantasy series for a few years, and am still trying to get an agent. For me, the worst part is writing that one-page query letter. That letter and the first three chapters are what will sell the story. It's great if the rest of the book is just as good, but it doesn't matter as much as those opening pages.

For my last full-length manuscript, I spent over 3x as much time on the second draft as on the first draft. I think that's pretty normal. I just did an outline, first draft, second draft (which involved multiple re-writes of some sections) and a final proof-read and copy-edit.

I am now thinking about switching to a more formulaic genre, because I'm so frustrated with the marketing process.

Bonaventura · 02/11/2007 20:21

The publishing game has changed quite a lot in the last ten years. I believe there are very few publishers left who will read an MS at all unless it comes through an agent. They just send it straight back.

My own tip would be to have a lot more done than you need to send. I don't necessarily mean the whole thing, but you should have a good idea of the overall shape, and at least one quarter should be in reasonably polished form. The reason I say that is that once you let others read and comment on what you've written, some of the creative energy goes. Don't quite know why, but it does. So the later the better. Ideally, in a perfect world, you'd get it all done before you send it to anyone, so that any further writing is re-writing rather than fresh creation.

I'm working on a historical novel, which is about one quarter completed, but I'm hanging on until I've written a lot more before I even send an agent a few chapters.

SenoraPostrophe · 02/11/2007 20:24

really, bv? I find another opinion helps enormously. but then i am yet to begin something as ambitious as a novel.

roisin · 02/11/2007 20:26

A friend of mine (published author) was working on a sequel to his second book, and told me he was just finishing off his sixth edit/draft before sending it off to the editor for her input.

He was a bit of a perfectionist though!

Pruners · 02/11/2007 20:30

Message withdrawn

Naartjie · 16/11/2007 19:54

I believe that a second draft would take a lot longer than the first, because you need to be very strict with spelling, grammar, punctuation, character development, dialogue etc. The first draft is just getting the idea onto paper. I would do a few drafts, because each time it'll improve.

Also, it's a good idea to get a trusted friend to read it, to see if you're missing anything obvious and if it all makes sense with a fresh pair of eyes.

And there needs to be a correct format before you send it to a publisher- any writers' magazine would specify the details.

I'm not published (never tried) but I have just finished an excellent Open Uni course on creative writing

Flip

1 2