How to turn your messy first draft into something actually worth reading
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ก.ค. 2024
- Have you written a first draft, but have no idea where to start when it comes to revisions? If so, this video is for you. Today I am sharing my revision and editing process, start to finish - how I take a hot mess first draft and turn it into a polished book that I feel confident sharing with the world. So grab a notebook - and that messy manuscript you've been avoiding - and let's get started!
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✨T I M E S T A M P S✨
00:00 Introduction
01:18 The importance of decompression time
02:47 Revising the first draft
06:56 Line editing
08:19 Getting feedback
09:23 Professional edits and proofread
10:39 Subscribe for more writing videos :)
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✨ A B O U T ✨
My name is Abbie Emmons I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling, transforming their ideas into a masterpiece, and creating a lifestyle that makes their author dreams come true.
Story isn’t about “what happens” - it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel - and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!
abbie: set it aside for 3-4...
me: days
abbie:... months
Fr 💀
If you want to fast-track this process, just write a new book (first draft) so you’re not thinking about the first one. This not only makes it easier to endure the waiting but it actually makes you “forget” about the details of the first one faster. When I’m done with the first draft of one book I move on to the next one and once I finish that I can immediately go back and read my first one again somewhat fresh even if it only took me a month or two to draft the second book.
@@enfant00x So far I have created another first draft and seven new books with a couple chapters and/or prologues, while waiting to go back to my first draft
Can we just appreciate that these videos are FREE
Free with decent audio,I can definitely appreciate that.
YES I’m so glad I found this channel
YES! I appreciate Abby SO much!
I have waited for literal YEARS to watch your revision/editing videos, all because I had never finished a first draft! 106k words and almost four years later, I can finally say I made it!!!
This came at the perfect time!!! I just finished my first draft, and I'm so overwhelmed now because I've never actually edited an entire story before.💛
@@KidsNetworkCrafts Thank you!
hi im trying to write a murder mystery novel and was woundering what size of page should i write in
@Dance Girl Congratulations!
@Mare Black 😀
Same here! My first finished book after years of procrastination. Congrats 👏🏻
Your process is soo similar to mine. One thing I do differently is instead of hiring one proofreader, I hold a contest for who can find the most mistakes in my manuscript and whoever finds the most wins a fun prize. Saves on my budget and lots of people are very motivated to find all of the mistakes! :)
Smart! I’m definitely doing this
Woah. Thank you for this idea.
I just finish writing my first ever first draft and your videos help me a lot while I was writing it! this is amazing! thank you so much!
Congratulations!!! 🥳🥳
@@moderndayphilosopher4356 Thank you!! :))
Same!! I have no idea what I’m doing 😅
I finished my first draft over the weekend, 75,000 words later! This video is every well timed, thank you
PERFECT timing!!! I literally just finished my first draft and have no idea where to begin edits (because it SORELY needs it lol)
Now that I've got two novels and two novellas under my belt (written, not published), I can really see how much outlining helps me in the long run. It helps a lot to have things sorted out beforehand, because no matter what I do, I will ALWAYS end up adding a brand-new very important plot element out of the blue towards the end of the book, one that changes the whole course of the series (if it's a series). These random additions really complete the story, every single time---so I've come to expect that by the time I'm done writing, a lot of things will be different from when I started (entire characters and systems appear and disappear halfway through XD, it's a mess until it's edited).
Also, for me, I can't actually figure out the theme of my book until I'm done with it. Because at the end, I can exactly see the whole picture, and I can see the correlation between the theme my characters are leaning towards and the truth that I realize is the one I want to "shout from the rooftops." Then, I sort of edit the theme into my characters and the events that happen in the story.
So true!
Same, I can't find the theme until the end or near the end of writing it. And I also just throw in random things here and there that aren't outlined. It makes it much more fun to write in my opinion.
This comment taught me more and gave me more comfort than anything ever has omg (writing vise)
aww thanks! Update, I turned that first draft into my book The Time Warden, which came out in March!! Proof that all of this work we're putting in really does pay off
Hi! Before this first draft, I had written a story before, back when I was 14. It was a 48k first draft. After I finished, I spent one month away from it, tried to hop back in, and... bam. I could barely edit. First of all, I had no clue what I was doing. I didn't reread any of it. I kept mixing line editing with plot and structure. And I realized, my plot and structure wasn't very strong. I've kind of scrapped that story for the time being.
This story is new. I started writing it on March 31st and finished on April 8th, with 57.3k. words. Yes, I was grinding all spring break with some days being 6-7 hours of writing... straight. But now I have my first draft! It's been around a month and a week since then and I'm ready to hop back into editing.
This time, I actually have a plan. An editing process.
Thank you for being honest but kind. I don't believe there's any reason to totally trash people when trying to help them write their novel as the last person did in her video. This was extremely helpful.
I came here to tell you thank you! I have just (ten minutes ago) finished my first draft of my first book and needed an Abbie video to celebrate 🎉 I am ecstatic with joy, cuz its been a few years coming. Thanks for all the great content that have helped so many of us (so many in the comments) come to this point!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Congrats everyone!!!
Thank goodness! I've been trying to find a video like this for ages! Thank you Abbie!
Abbie Emmons my QUEEN... your videos have been so enlightening and are pretty much the only thing that is getting me through my final year script project at uni. I'll probably be watching you and supporting you forever.
you have no idea how how much this is going to help me. Thank you Abbie♥️
This was literally gold. I wrote my first draft two years ago and I thought that it's was really something I am confident about so, now I have started revising it after I saw your video.
Your way of explaining things is awesome :-)
Love the tips! Thank you! For me, however, I prefer to put my 1st draft away for only a few days. I've found if I leave it for a few months then I'm in the thick of another project and it's hard to pick it back up/give it the attention it needs and deserves.
Ahh so perfect! I literally just finished some developmental editing on the my first draft of my book. Abbie I’m convinced you can read our minds😌
Thank you for this!! 😄 I’m currently doing a huge rewrite/overhaul of my book (it sorely needed it 😂), and it’s honestly so much fun to see it become the things I’ve always wanted it to be 🤩 Thank you for your amazing videos, they’re helping me so much!!!
I'm so glad I found your channel! I actually started watching your plot-outline-character creating videos because I have a new story idea but I realized that I have to learn how to write, but then I remembered that I have a finished book that I wanna edit and so I searched how to edit a book and fortunately, your channel came up once again :D (I finished the book 4 years ago so the first task on the list is done xD)
I love the binder idea! I'm going to try it for sure! Thanks!
Your videos are absolutely incredible, tips ON POINT and youve helped me develop so many chacters and plots! While im slowly pulling away from fanfiction in order to do my own thing, this helps greatly!
Came here because I finally finished the rough draft of my novel after 6 months (from creating characters to plotting to actually writing the draft) of writing. Thank you so much Abby. Your write with me Livestreams helped me so much. Even if I wasn't watching them live, they still gave me the motivation to write.
I finished my first draft. Ever thought I would get this far. 90000 words. Thank u abbie. Your videos help so much
I just started editing the first draft of my first novel so this came at the perfect time 💕
Really like the focus on decompression time to get into the editing mindset. It makes it so much easier when you consciously split the writing part from the editing part. Thanks!
FYI. I can basically quote your entire intro now. I’m sure I can’t be the only one. Thanks for another great video on a very needed topic!
I have written my first book and has been with an editor, so now I am on my re-right. I have learnt a lot from this video, thank you x
OMG Amazing! JUST THE TOPIC THATS UP FOR ME!!! Thank you Abbie!!
Funny how I'm used to your vids form like.. Three years ago or at least 10 months ago-
You're so amazing Abbie, thank you very much.
Abbie, I just read your book 100 Days of Sunlight, and can I just say how much I love this book. I love it so much. I love the characters and Tessa and omg I love Weston. I think my favorite side character is Rudy. You really know how to make such lovable characters. Agghhh I loved it so much. I don’t usually read outside of school but on the rare occasion that I do, it’s got to be a great book, and this is what happened with 100 Days of Sunlight (came home with less than half of it done, finished it by the end of the night). I know you probably don’t want to read this whole thing about me ranting about your book, but thank you so much for creating this! You really are an amazing author!! 🥰❤️❤️
Lol awesome timing. I feel like I've already done the 'decompression time' for a couple of months now ready for the revision phase! My 1st draft was just sitting in my drive since the new year
😆
You are amazing! I finished my first draft a couple months ago and I was trying to edit it but I didn't know what to change. I liked this video a lot.
Omg Abbie!!!!! I thought I was the only one who printed out my manuscripts for revising stuff. Omggg this is great
Perfect timing for me too! Thanks for this!
Excellent tips. The revision process is so daunting for me. Thank you. Also blouse is lovely and has Cinderella vibes!
Just finished a draft two weeks ago, very apt timing for this video, thank you!
Perfect tips.
I am going to finish my first drafting of my book. These tips are really helpful.
I'm still on the process of outlining a story which I have been planning for a week now. The process is a whole lot painful but I know it'll be worth everything. I hope I could start writing this week. Thanks for another great helpful video! 🖤
Ohmygosh you look like a freaking princess!!! Great video as always, thank you for your tireless work for us writing babies ☺️
This has absolutely changed my life!!!
Perfect timing, you rock!:)
This parallels my basic process. This is practical and realistic. Getting people to read it is what really makes it work. Once you have that feedback they will help keep things on the ground. From there you can add and improve the work.
I'm actually on the 4th draft at the moment, but it still feels like a first draft because it's meant to be the first in a mystery series and the overall story has changed so much and so many times that each draft is basically a new book 😂
I just finished my first draft two weeks weeks ago, and was struggling with editing so thank you!
This video is really helpful, thank you! Also you look really nice today ☺️
This video was exactly what i needed! thank u abbie!
Thank you for the helpful videos. I’ve been writing since i was 15 and it’s funny I unknowingly knew some of it.
Outlining has helped me cement ideas and create news ones. It’s hard for me to write more then a few hundred words a day due to the fact I work full time in a hospital. But something is better then nothing.
Ready to get inspired!
I'm almost finished with my rough draft so this was perfect timing!
I've got to let it sit.... Okay maybe not perfect timing 😂
Thank you for this video! I just recently looked back on a draft I had written for NaNoWriMo back in 2015, and I was surprised how much I liked from it. I'm still debating if this NaNoWriMo I want to start with a new book or do a second draft of this one (it needs a lot of work, and the second half has to be re-written). Unfortunately, it seems like this will be the case of writing a second first draft, and then revising that one, but I'm glad you gave me some direction! Also that tip to not look at the minor things until you have the big things out of the way. It helps me think as I go into writing the next draft that I don't need to worry about the minute details of how the scenes play out, but should make sure the story is consistent and interesting.
this is exactly what I needed woww
Thank you, this was stellar advice ❤
Really great video on editing, my least favourite part of writing, great ideas I will definitely try and use in my editing process. Thank you.
Very timely as I am currently in the middle of editing.
Thank you abbie. I am furiously writing my first novel to make it past 2 chapters into a journal. Hoping to not lose hope or steam on this project
Ah yes, quite the good snark for my writing talents that I do. I think you've gained both my school process and, my chances of getting t higher ground a huge huge oomph of the floor.
I have a question about writing and Abbie has a video about it. Awesome.
ur shirt is soooo cute♥
great vid. super helpful
Love this video! I also really like the sneak peaks into the actual manuscript. How many revisions would you say you do on average before moving on to line editing?
Thanks for the post. Working on an intense second draft. I'm published by small press and some paid markets. Self-publishing free eBooks by choice to be nice and for a personal project. Outlining: For me it's the opposite. I always outline, but I don't always use the same method. Each story is different, and I don't mind huge revisions if they are fun. When I over outline, I sometimes outline myself into corners that I need to fix with semi-discovery writing or with daily outlining notes to fix or write the next days work.
I think I'm finally learning that my gut brain knows what's going on -- I just wish it gave me the words. Thank you for this list. Now I know why I was so overwhelmed (and dreading) editing the non-fiction book I thought I had edited many times before (before I found out I had more that I needed to learn and include before beginning the true editing process -- big grin).
Perfect timing, 'cause I'm almost done with mine.💜⚡
Same XD
meanwhile Im stuck on the first chapter 🥲
OH MY GOSH ABBIE!! I FOUND SOMEONE WHO SOELLS IT THE SAME WAY! But names aside- your videos help me and my process so so mucch
Your outfit and hair are giving me Cinderella vibes! I love it!!!
This video is very helpful ❤🎉
Love You Abb's: Keep Up The Good Work ~
Thanks to you i really started writing my stories. I wrote 2 stories and their first chapters. Just published it today on wattpad. I used to think about ideas and almost think about writing but would just end up not writing. Then i came across your video and it really helped me. It made me clear with my ideas and stories. Really really thanks a lot. Its all because of you that i finally have published two of my stories (just one chapters of each). Pls read my stories.
Its named
Dont blood it
Past in the future
Really thanks a lot. Really really thank you so much. You are really a great person
Great video. Thank you!
Finally rewatching this after completing my first draft at 130k words. It took 1.5 years writing it alongside another novel. This is bound to help so much, thank you Abbie. ❤
I did some intense research on revising at the start of 2021; I've been using the triage method for revising (before I do any line editing) where I read over my story in full, then take time to think over it and decide from the outside looking in what big pieces need to change. I mainly look at the macro elements of the story - character (which obviously involves my theme and the character's arc of change), plot, stakes - and some micro elements - suspense and tension, momentum and pacing. From there, I can kind of create an outline of what happens in my story, then on paper decide how to fix any issues with those elements. THEN I can actually go into the novel... sort of. I have a list of scenes, and go through my book out of order and insert new scenes, fix up old scenes, sprinkle in new elements, pull out some old ones... basically, I fix everything I need to fix to make those macro and micro elements more solid. After that, I leave the novel to sit for a while, then come back and do it all over again. The idea is to keep as much objectivity as possible and keep doing passes to fix those foundational pieces of the story till they're at the level you want them to be. It's called the triage method, because you are taking care of the most serious cases first.
In the future, I will go on to do line editing and work my way through every scene, paragraph, and line to make them the best they can be. While I'm excited to start, I have yet to reach that point. I've written 3 drafts of my story, and have given it to a writing buddy to take a look at, and in the future, I want to take her feedback (which was really good, but also somewhat brutal - but good!!) and use it. I think that will be my last hack at the story before I go intensely close with my edits, and THEN I can finally send it to a professional developmental editor. 😂 It's long, it's hard, it hurts my brain a lot sometimes, but I really want to make my story into the best version it can be. 😊
I do a similar method with my own writing!
Ugh, I am in the middle of revision purgatory rewriting stuff I wrote over ten years ago. So, I've had lots of decompression time! Starting to feel like I just should have started something new. Maybe I'll try printing it out. There is something magical about seeing it all in print.
thanks i am just finished my first draft i am not a novelist but a comic book artist and found this fantastic... once again thank
you
After 1 and half year of writing just yesterday completed my first draft. ☺☺
I am doing editing and drafting at the same because due to "writer's block"🙄😅 I edit my previous chapters and when I get the drive and motivation of creating my next chapter with details on top of the drafted chapter ideas. That's just my technique. It helps me to finish my writing faster too and this video is just what I need it!😁❤⭐️
PLEASE make a recommendation video of books that will make us fall back in love with writing, something with lyrical literature or anything that makes a writer realize that yeah this is written so beautiful and writing is just magical. :)
Thank you
Excellent!
Been releasing my debut in serial form on Kindle Vella and Laterpress, with an episode every week. Some stuff like this will come into play on a pass for the eventual book / ebook release. On a weekly release cadence, for me it's more rough draft, edit / revise the chapter, proofread, publish. I have two people as extra sets of eyes for typo checks, but they're not good for feedback on the actual quality of the writing. I think it's been working pretty well so far.
hello abbie please can you do a video on your outlining process from when you get your first idea to when you finnish the book thank you i really want to be able to write a really a really good standard .
Last year I ask for and got a Remarkable2 for my bday. Revisions now are like this: compile pdf from scrivener; upload to my Remarkable; use the digital ink pen to make notes, highlight, write new scenes and so on. I love that I can take it everywhere, even for hike in the woods. And it is more eco friendly while giving me the benefits of a different medium and reduced eye strain
Great new video!
you can sent word to review mode and do all the things you showed in your notes.
For those who can't afford to print.
Step 1 Watch Abbie's videos. Step 2 pause it in middle and start writing cause you had an amazing idea. Step-3 resume the video because you really wanna get tht knowledge she is sharing.
You look like Cinderella and I absolutely love it! Thanks for the help, it's absolutely amazing to know your channel
I was waiting all day for this😊. And this is awesome, and I love this channel! One thing I hate is my internet, it keeps buffering!!!!
Ps. I use Grammarly to write so I don't have to worry about spelling and punctuation.
As a professional editor, I would warn against depending entirely on Grammarly. It's a great tool to catch a bunch of stuff, but when it really comes down to it, there is A LOT more to language complexities than a computer can manage on its own. You truly do need a human eye on it as well. :) Good luck!
ONE author who gives no nonsense advice abt the dreaded first edit!
Ive finished many first drafts but never edited any of them until now, it's a very new and scary things for me xD this video along with your other editing vids are so helpful! I actually went straight into line edits and while doing that writing down all the places where i need to add something to the plot, or plot changes i need to make, because i didnt write those down while writing the draft, so now i have to find them while editing
But i think now i might stop the line editing and just change the big picture stuff, cuz i got a long list there of things that need to change, haha
I always love the intro: "Why does your story matter." And what keeps me going is my answer. I answer it every time you ask it.
"My story matters because representation matters." I write M/M bear romance. Almost every romance I've read with a husky protagonist wants to change themselves and only when a thin or fit guy comes along and says he's fine the way he does he decide he is fine. What about the husky guy who doesn't feel he has to lose weight to fit into the standards of the gay community? What if he wants love from someone who is also husky. This is why my story matters. It tells the story of the subculture in the gay community that is shunned and misunderstood. I'm a bear, I've been one since my mid-20s and I'm happy. We can be overweight and feel deserving of love the way we are without having to change. :) Thank you for everything you do, Abbie. :)
Abbie you look stunning as always💘
What I did was notes of changes that needed to be made when I finished. I complete removed a character and replaced them with someone else (who hopefully will be the lead in the next book) because it fit better. So, I went through and did any changes I felt I needed first. That way, even though I'm close to it, I'm not doing full revision or trying to see the mistakes, errors, etc. I'm just making the changes to the story that fits. That's me though. This is my first manuscript and I just started editing today. :)
I gotta say, having written my very first draft a little over a month ago, this does give me several ideas on how to start on my revisions.
Even so, I still wonder how it will work out. After all, I’m writing a light novel, and this is just the very first entry of what is a longer series.
Hey Abbie I am published and did the self-publishing route through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and released Book One Worthless to the crime and discipline series this past January 30 th!
After writing my first novel, I realized I was having “White Room Syndrome” in some of my scenes. I’ve not let anyone read that book yet, but I still love it in general. I’ve expanded the book from near 90k words to a 110k manuscript. I still haven’t let anyone read it yet, as I know its a large ask. So, every few months I look it over again. In the meantime, I’ve written six other novels/novellas and began a trilogy with multiple POV characters.
Nothing like Wheel Of Time, but more akin to something like The Warded Man (Peter V. Brett) or Age of Myths(Michael J. Sullivan). For any who don’t know those authors, Peter V Brett’s Demon Cycle Series has multiple POVs, but has a steady main three to five POV characters. Michael J. Sullivan’s Riyria Chronicles has between two and five main POV characters, while Age Of Myths and its following series of books has a rotating cast of around twelve POV characters.
Yet, after my first novel was “complete”, I looked for many of the mistakes I saw in my writing after I went back to the authors I love to read/listen to and took notes on things I liked and disliked. I recognized that writing multiple POVs is a serious challenge, and so baby stepped my way into it. Yet, first drafting is more about getting the big parts out, as Abbie mentions. Take your time and figure out if your story has gone as far as you wanted within the first draft before you start major edits.
I tend toward reading through for flow, grammar, and consistency of story in my first editing pass. This also becomes more of a challenge with multiple POV characters, so limit yourself to no more than three POs in the first try. I also tend to start with a scene by scene outline that trends toward writing itself to fill in holes I never conceived prior to actually writing. This makes me a bit of a hybrid plotter with a minor in pantsing. Yet, when I go off script, so to speak, I pay much more attention to how it all flows.
My second pass of editing usually is line edits and how to write my sentences more economically when possible. I write fantasy, so word count starts to matter when you go beyond 80k. I’m not Brandon Sanderson, so I take his advice and try to cut down my words when they’re superfluous. By my third novel “completed” I have less of that to cut.
Yet, I’ve yet to get a pro editor so my mileage varies.
Just realised you look like the actress that plays Nancy in Stranger Things! Another super helpful video once again!
Super helpful video 👏 also you look like Cinderella 💕
As someone who's still sticking with fanfictions for the moment, I'm actually gonna need advice on this for some longer stories. (Still trying to motivate myself to rewrite and edit the 10k project I did back around October...)
Also, quick question. What highlighters do you use? The ones I use keep making the ink smear... meaning I just went to using pencils to mark up the paper.
@@KidsNetworkCrafts Thanks!
My dad said it'd probably smear no matter what I use, given it was printer ink, but I also wondered if the ones I was using were cheap...
And if their pastel, that'll mean their prettier... so even if they don't work as I'd like...
I am nearly done with my manuscript and I'm in the tough process of editing. I feel like I'm at the brink of finishing. I've been working on my blurb, doing some final touches to the manuscript before being proof read, and making it the best it can be before I format.
dude this was SO helpful. Not gonna lie tho I'm in chapter 10 of my first book in a duology (and ever) and I realized half way through that I'm going to have to write five more chapters to the beginning to give my character move background and well roundedness instead of just offing her parents in the first chapter lol so my revision process gonna need to be First draft, part of second, edit, second, etc
One of the benefits of decompression was I realized one of my minor characters needed a name change. Just a small three letter tweak with pronunciation pretty much the same, but now on paper it matches much better the culture I created.
@AskAbbie I’m in need of this question answered!!
So I’ve had so much trouble trying to figure out how I could add in internal conflict but like… italicizing my characters thoughts, and I’m also writing my novel in third person. So therefore, should I continue to write in third person, and use the italics in first person or third person? I really don’t know what to do, because I reallyy want to add in internal conflict, but I’m not sure how to do it. I have my MC’s misbelief, fear and desire, but I just can’t get this internal conflict under control. Thank you so so so much, your a life saver!!
I just wanted to say that I loved your shirt.