"The first attempt of anything is always a mess, that's why God made men first", I was just watching the video, very seriously taking mental notes, and I just had to stop and laugh for like 5 minutes straight, right when you think Jenna will give totally serious advise she come up whit the funnies shit, out of nowhere, and for what.
I'm 80 pages into writing and i still cant fathom how some authors have written dozens of 6 humdred page books edit: I FINISHED MY BOOK AND JUST HAVE ABOUT 200 PAGES
Hey congratulations!! I'm still writing my 1st novel. I would love to be a beta reader for you if you want one. I'm trying to meet other novelists and get ideas to help me write mine, so I would be honored to read your book.
"The first attempt at anything is always a mess. That's why God made man first." As both a man and an atheist this is the humor I love. Literally laughed out loud.
I started editing several novellas I wrote before taking a writing course - they're now 98% red pen 😅😂🤣😂 at first it looked overwhelming, but then I got really happy ☺ despite all 4 novellas having to be completely restructured and rewritten, it made me happy that I'd learned enough to realise how shitty they were 😅😂 Omg, the adverbs and head-hopping!!!! *past me digs hole to hide in* 😁
Wow. 4 novels? That's awesome. I'm working on 1 at a time. Lol. I would love to be a beta reader for you if you need/want one. I'd love to read all 4 of them. I'm trying to learn from other writers to become better myself.
@@surgeorosgo I really should work on one at a time 😅 I think you have the right idea! Much less overwhelming 😳 Oh my gosh, that would be amazing, thank you so much for offering! 🥰 Only 1 of them is ready for reading, and it's quite a hard-core horror, though 😶
“If you’re watching this video, there’s a good chance you’ve just finished the first draft of your book.” *Me, who hasn’t even started outlining yet:* Nah, I just want to be ready for when that horrific phase inevitably comes.
I'm not at this stage yet, but I'm eager! P.S. I was completing a writing excercise, which asked the question: "Which book or author do you find most inspiring, and why?" I wrote: "Jenna Moreci, because she is raw, gives no shits, is an underdog in the writing world who made it big on her own, gives great/honest writing advice, is funny, and she's selfless." 💖
Same here! I expect to be done before Christmas time... It's crazy to imagine that I'm actually gonna get through the first draft after the years I've spent writing things and deleting them all and writing things again.. :o
@@iferawhite7661 Wow! I might be in a similar position as you then! I just finished the first draft on Christmas Eve (pretty great Christmas present, if you ask me) and I've been working on it for years!
@@lilijennings7316 That is pretty awesome. Congratulations! I'm a writer looking for inspiration from other writers. I would love to be a beta reader for you. Please let me know if that's something you'd be interested in.
@@iferawhite7661 That's awesome. Congratulations. I'm looking to become a beta reader for writers in order to help others but to read people's work to get inspiration for my own novels. If you would like, I would love to read your draft. Let me know if you do.
Me: /struggling to come up with an outline for a vague story idea/ Jenna: Wanna know how to edit your first draft? Me: Yes. /watches the whole video even though I know I'll have to rewatch it in the future/
Hey, Jenna? Because of you, I'm ending up a third type of newbie author- fully aware that my first draft will suck, but bound and determined that it will be good someday. I really have to thank you- I started out as someone who went over every single thing a hundred times over before I put a sentence down. It had to be perfect the first time. But now, I've got notes to myself on the pages of my first draft saying things like "It's just a first draft. Stop waffling and get it down." And "Phrasing sucks, fix it in edit." And it's because of you. Thank you.
I finished my first draft, but im happy that it is somewhat readable in regards to story and plot. Working on the second book now already ready to get to the third
I think I disagree with how long to take a break from your draft. Though I haven't gotten to the point of finishing my first draft, I still have periods where I need breaks from writing because my brain just needs time away from it for a while. I think 2 weeks is sufficient for people who may find themselves drifting from it after a longer period of time, but I think a full month is the ideal wait time. No matter how soon someone has finished chapter one, they need to give their brain a little vacation from the project before jumping back in again. imo, I don't know if they could catch their mistakes as easily if the story as a whole is too fresh on their mind.
I love Jenna's channel, so I felt compelled to give her book a read. English is not my first language, and sometimes I struggle to understand some things. So, I thought I'd see if I could find the Spanish translation online. Turns out there's no Spanish version yet, which is a bummer. I ended up deciding to buy the book anyway and just keep an English dictionary close by. But I found an outstanding amount of bad reviews. I'm shocked at the number of people saying she promised more than she delivered with the book. Her advice is so good and specific. A lot of people commented about that, but they also said she failed to follow her own advice. I'd like to see a video about this. Maybe not by Jenna herself, but it'd be great to see what and where those discrepancies regarding her advice are.
I always hope beyond hope that this will be the novel that my editor says is great and needs few changes. Then when I get the truth, I sigh really deeply, take a week off to process, and then jump hard into the edits. I am glad to hear that I'm already doing most of these in my own editing, though I like the idea of trying to use colour coding again. I attempted to do it with my first novel and... well, my first novel was unsalvagable, so I didn't try it again. That was over ten years ago though and I've since published. Its probably worth relooking at again to see if it will work for me now. Thanks.
Over the years, pantsing has been how I write. I have written some decent stories that way... but the latest attempt was not particularly great. I was getting frustrated trying to edit it because it seemed impossible to make something decent out of it. So I took a step back and decided that I'm going to rewrite the whole thing. This time, doing what I have never done before... plot outline! So... I get to rewrite the first draft all over again... yay? Well hopefully I can produce something I can actually work with this time... but this is the first time I'm not pantsing this... so we'll see. And then I'll have this advice here to keep in mind.
Just wanna cheer you up in you attempt! I do in everytime after writing the first draft. Not really because the 1st draft is shit, but because the 1st draft for me is learning what story I should have written but didn't. My normal way of working is creating an outline AFTER the 1st draft, and what goes after this is the 2nd draft for me. Maybe you's better call yours the 2nd, too. It's not that discouraging imho.
@@dariakey5318 Thanks for the kind words. Also... pantsing for the first draft then plotting for the second while taking to heart the problems from the pantsing attempt. Sounds like an approach worth trying.
These videos always come at the best time! Would you recommend listening(I downloaded edit out loud thanks to you) to your first draft along with reading through it? I'm a stay at home mom and sitting down to read is... Scarce. Plus I remember you saying hearing it out loud helps you catch more mistakes
@@ravenstower really helps to have a tangible result of your work. I'm not tech savvy so trawling back and forwards through the lap top is a pain . Marker pens and post it notes really helped kept finding errors like a character would pick up a 38 revolver and twenty pages later shoot a 9mm auto. Lot or errors like that
Congratulations. I'm looking to become a beta reader for other writers in order to help others but also to read people's work to get inspiration for my own novels. If you would like, I would love to read your draft. Let me know if you do.
Thank you SO much for making this video!!! I have written a couple of manuscripts in the past and always get stuck on what to do after the first draft. I felt stupid because I was like, just edit it, it's simple. But I always got so overwhelmed and didn't know what to look for. There are TONS of videos and blogs and courses on writing your first draft but then not many resources for what to do after. So thank you x100000 because this helped me SO much!!! ❤
I know you've done answering before so here is my try. I've published my first novel however I have no media presence, I'm not really active on any platform. Basically I'm wondering if you have any tips/ideas how to build up some publicity specifically youtube? (I have a channel) I'm not a booktuber and have been thinking about let's plays and mention my book during those plays but I'm worried it'll come off as annoying since people would click on the video for the game.
When I was 11, I started a novel on the bus on a whim. Long story short, I gave up on it and then four years later decided to write the second half. I’m 16 now and I finished it last night. Is it awful? Absolutely. All I really care is that I completed something for once. I will say though, today felt strangely empty; I haven’t had an easy day in about a year.
but on a more serious note, I just finished my first ever first draft and I was so scared about editing but watching this has calmed me down so much: thank you💛
I have a new (better) story in my head and just finished the first draft of another story, do I write the 1st draft of the new story and choose wich Im goin to edit of the two drafts or edit the 1st draft right away and start new story later? ps english is my 2nd language
Personally, i would write what i feel inspired to write, and edit after. Inspiration to write is hard to come by and getting all those ideas on the page is most important. Time away from your draft will also give you new insight when you return to it later. However, this advice is specific to your situation, as i wouldnt want to start something new while in the middle of a book. Also, all writers are different, so do what works best for you. If you feel like you won't edit it unless you do it now, then editing first is likely the best choice.
i started writing my Afrocentric fantasy novel before i even thought of the prologue. It may be dumb but it helped me plan a better one a little later 😭
For the last step i believe i am both types :D I mean i am 100 % sure my story is amazing but i am also 100% insecure about how i will manage to write it :D I mean most of the time i think that whatever i write down is a complete BS. But yes, I did notice how my writing improved ( with a lot) comparng the first chapterswith the latests ^.^ Great video as always! Thank you for being there for us newbies!
After finishing my first draft, I had it printed and sent to me and honestly? Reading it like it was a real book sent me on an emotional roller coaster, it was such an overwhelming feeling as someone who has tried to write a book since age 13 and never got past page 50. It was a lot of fun editing it this way too!
Just finished a short piece and have gone through like 50-million emotions. I need rehab and I want everyone to unfriend me... thats what finishing felt like lol.
>"It's okay! You can do it! The first draft is never gonna be great!" You're right, I can do this! >"That's why God made Man first!" Well hold on there that's not nice lmao
Ah yes, I just started the outlining and worlbuilding process for my novel and plan to start the first draft in January. Perfect time to watch this video!
"That's why God made men first." BWAHAHAHAHA - truer words were never spoken. I'm a guy - I should know. I'm adding epigraphs to my chapters and I gotta use that, noted as ancient Earth wisdom. Can I, Jenna, pleeeease?
Enjoy your 1 star reviews LMFAO 🤣🤣🤣🤣 My first attempts at editing taught me how I can manage my editing process. My first draft of novel 1 is still shitty. So I've parked that and I am now embarking on my first attempts at editing novel 2 and it's going much better.
4.18: Last year I wanted to publish, the urge disappeared lucky, so I left my story alone, went back there and ended up re-writing it, because of lack of spaces....glad I didn;t
Jenna, I agree wholeheartedly with you when you say that resting is necessary after that much work. I usually do all of my resting after I received my ass-load of critiques. I recently made so many embarrassing mistakes with my WIP that I swore I would take a LONG vacation from working on it afterwards. Turns out I only needed two weeks before I eventually created a problem/solution chart, which included developmental issues that needed solving, characters that needed profiles, and topics that needed further research. I’ve got a LOT of work ahead of me, but at least now I know what the fuck I need to do.
FINISHED the first draft? Jenna is so cute sometimes. 😆 I finished the first act of the first draft though... so that's something. Characters are beginning to jump off the page and offer insight into who they are now (2 characters have done this in 2 days now, pretty exciting and possibly a sign of a mental health issue). Anyway you know those lights that dot the inside of tunnels? Well, I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, but I think I see one of those lights...
I love this little metaphore for first drafts. A first draft is like a raw slab of meat just chopped off the carcass. Doesn't look good, does it? Its weird and graphic and you absolutely would not want to set this on the dinner table. Edits and critiques and the game plan are like the knives and spices. It will take a while, but if you just keep carving and marinating and seasoning, eventually you'll have a godly steak just thirty minutes of fire away from its full potential. Know this: it won't be perfect. Not everyone will like it. Some people like steak done rare or well done, with plenty of fat or as little as possible, and some people are vegetarians or vegans. But the important part is that you made it, you like it, and did everything you could. Hey, next time you carve yourself a steak, you'll know more about garlic levels and fire control. Getting advice from fellow chefs, like Jenna, will help you immensely.
I'm still a while away from finishing my first draft, but I wrote your self-editing steps down for future reference. I imagine it will be a huge pain in my ass as I've made some pretty big changes to the story since I started, so the developmental edits are going to be big
Hey all, just wanted to drop a comment to commend Jenna for The Savior’s Champion, I was going through a time of not reading a lot, but couldn’t put it down after I started, it was a serious page turner and now I’m impatiently waiting for the second one in the mail. I’ve been watching this content for ages and hadn’t bought her book but now I am hooked. I’ve read a lot over the years but this makes my top 3. Recommend you all give it a go! Goodness!
I'm NOT arrogant - I DO believe that my writing needs re-writing and polish. But when I finish a story, I'm so in love with the characters and the story that the flaws are invisible to me. I know this and lean heavily on volunteer beta readers. Then, when I get to pro edits, it's shorter, cheaper, and less painful.
Does anyone have any good Critique Partner group recs? Specifically Dark Fantasy or Dystopian themed. I have one trusted Critique partner but I am looking for more to jog me out of my plotting problem and future help. (I also love giving edit advice and don't hold back on the details haha)
I’m not sure if this would help, but you could read chapters in steps. Like comparing chapter 1 and 3. Not literally with the scenes going on, but with the writing itself if there’s any repetition, missed scenes, etc.
'If you're watching this video, there's a good chances you've just finished the first draft of your novel.' .... (Orrrr my notifications told me Jenna be posting so I come running without reading the title of the video at all 😅 fangirl gotta do what a fangirl gotta do!)
Thank you so much for the video, Jenna! I personally have a severe problem with wanting the first draft to be as perfect as possible. (I think it stems never editing work in school and still doing well.) Having a professional writer be so open about the writing process makes the daunting task of retraining my brain to be okay with an imperfect draft feel much easier to accomplish. Saving this video to rewatch in case I start being too critical of a first draft again. Thank you again! ~ From a writing hobbyist 💛
I'd like everyone's opinion on Jenna's final point, is it necessary to give ourselves props for what we do? It feels like awarding ourselves a gold star. What's needed is the drive to divorce ourselves emotionally from our ego as writers, push past the shame we feel at every mistake and do what is needed to correct, revise and improve, not feel better about ourselves in a braggadocious way.
Until a developmental self-edit is done I don't even consider it a first draft. Getting scenes on paper is just part of the process for me, and during that developmental pass you will probably add/delete/move/rewrite scenes anyway, so may as well just consider it part of the initial process. Besides I like to write on paper pads with note cards taped to the wall for tracking, then do the edits as I type the story into the computer. Love the feel of pen on paper.
Hahaha, the first of everything is always a mess that's why God made men first. I love this - your attitude is so sound, and the content is so helpful. Thanks!!!
Many thanks for this i knew that I would have major problems with edit do I wrote mistakes into the structure of the story. The deliberate mistakes I hope will bury or set the tone for the ones I made by error. I wrote to keep my head straight during lockdown never meant anyone to read it but it's now being professionally edited and published. But the truth is I would rather set my hair on fire than edit a book again. So this content is really helpful to me as I nearvthe end of the follow ups first draught
I need help with how to describe a new house scenario!! I don't know how to describe certain things and what to leave out and what to include. Please help!!
I tried to do some rewrites right after I finished and it didn't go well. I took a break and went back to it and found a sentence that made me say "was I drunk when I wrote that?" (I wasn't, I don't drink and write lol)
So while you are writing your first draft you also edit it sometimes, in the process? Now I'm just writing without editing and the idea of reading it scare me
I didn't do nano this year, but I've done it in the past, and have a first draft that I've attempted to edit. I'd left it so long between the writing and the editing that I'd forgotten most of it, and then got stuck in an endless loop of editing the first couple of chapters. God help me If I ever write a full novel lol
Yeah, I’m frankly sick of my first novel. But it’s gonna get done.
"The first attempt of anything is always a mess, that's why God made men first", I was just watching the video, very seriously taking mental notes, and I just had to stop and laugh for like 5 minutes straight, right when you think Jenna will give totally serious advise she come up whit the funnies shit, out of nowhere, and for what.
jenna with the casual sexism again
I second this. Just had to stop to have a good laugh myself. XD
I was just about to comment the exact same thing!
Same!!! Laughed out loud and immediately looked for someone having the same response
I'm 80 pages into writing and i still cant fathom how some authors have written dozens of 6 humdred page books
edit: I FINISHED MY BOOK AND JUST HAVE ABOUT 200 PAGES
Hey congratulations!! I'm still writing my 1st novel. I would love to be a beta reader for you if you want one. I'm trying to meet other novelists and get ideas to help me write mine, so I would be honored to read your book.
"The first attempt at anything is always a mess. That's why God made man first." As both a man and an atheist this is the humor I love. Literally laughed out loud.
I started editing several novellas I wrote before taking a writing course - they're now 98% red pen 😅😂🤣😂 at first it looked overwhelming, but then I got really happy ☺ despite all 4 novellas having to be completely restructured and rewritten, it made me happy that I'd learned enough to realise how shitty they were 😅😂
Omg, the adverbs and head-hopping!!!! *past me digs hole to hide in* 😁
Wow. 4 novels? That's awesome. I'm working on 1 at a time. Lol.
I would love to be a beta reader for you if you need/want one. I'd love to read all 4 of them.
I'm trying to learn from other writers to become better myself.
@@surgeorosgo I really should work on one at a time 😅 I think you have the right idea! Much less overwhelming 😳
Oh my gosh, that would be amazing, thank you so much for offering! 🥰
Only 1 of them is ready for reading, and it's quite a hard-core horror, though 😶
“If you’re watching this video, there’s a good chance you’ve just finished the first draft of your book.”
*Me, who hasn’t even started outlining yet:* Nah, I just want to be ready for when that horrific phase inevitably comes.
Me who wants to edit my 3rd draft: yeah yeah, totally only first draft
Same
I'm not at this stage yet, but I'm eager!
P.S. I was completing a writing excercise, which asked the question: "Which book or author do you find most inspiring, and why?" I wrote: "Jenna Moreci, because she is raw, gives no shits, is an underdog in the writing world who made it big on her own, gives great/honest writing advice, is funny, and she's selfless." 💖
Wow, perfect timing! I'm almost done with my first draft! I guess now I have to work on it and not procrastinate!
Same here! I expect to be done before Christmas time... It's crazy to imagine that I'm actually gonna get through the first draft after the years I've spent writing things and deleting them all and writing things again.. :o
@@iferawhite7661 Wow! I might be in a similar position as you then! I just finished the first draft on Christmas Eve (pretty great Christmas present, if you ask me) and I've been working on it for years!
@@lilijennings7316 That is pretty awesome. Congratulations! I'm a writer looking for inspiration from other writers. I would love to be a beta reader for you. Please let me know if that's something you'd be interested in.
@@iferawhite7661 That's awesome. Congratulations. I'm looking to become a beta reader for writers in order to help others but to read people's work to get inspiration for my own novels. If you would like, I would love to read your draft. Let me know if you do.
“The first version is always a mess; that’s why God made man first.” 😂😂 sheer perfection
Hahah even though we was all women first in the womb
I'm nowhere NEAR finishing my first draft... but i love Jenna's videos so ill watch anyways 😂
Same!
Oh same
Same lmao 😂
Legit me right now.
Sameeeeeeeee
Me: /struggling to come up with an outline for a vague story idea/
Jenna: Wanna know how to edit your first draft?
Me: Yes. /watches the whole video even though I know I'll have to rewatch it in the future/
Same 😂
I just finished Nano for the first time! Sadly I am not quite done as it epic length but I look forward to editing! Thank you Jenna!
Same here! Hope your remaining first draft stage goes well xx
You must be a mind reader, Jenna because this video was exactly what I needed.
all i do is just stare at my drafts waiting it to turn into a physic version of my best seller
Hey, Jenna? Because of you, I'm ending up a third type of newbie author- fully aware that my first draft will suck, but bound and determined that it will be good someday. I really have to thank you- I started out as someone who went over every single thing a hundred times over before I put a sentence down. It had to be perfect the first time.
But now, I've got notes to myself on the pages of my first draft saying things like "It's just a first draft. Stop waffling and get it down." And "Phrasing sucks, fix it in edit." And it's because of you. Thank you.
13:32 "The first attempt of anything is always a mess, that's why God made men first." I'm a guy and that cracked me up
I finished my first draft, but im happy that it is somewhat readable in regards to story and plot. Working on the second book now already ready to get to the third
I think I disagree with how long to take a break from your draft. Though I haven't gotten to the point of finishing my first draft, I still have periods where I need breaks from writing because my brain just needs time away from it for a while. I think 2 weeks is sufficient for people who may find themselves drifting from it after a longer period of time, but I think a full month is the ideal wait time. No matter how soon someone has finished chapter one, they need to give their brain a little vacation from the project before jumping back in again. imo, I don't know if they could catch their mistakes as easily if the story as a whole is too fresh on their mind.
I'm currently in the "take a break" period after finishing draft one. I'll get there.
Just one chapter away from finishing my rough draft. How is it going?
@@CW-dl2dd I finished that book, it's with my editor friend. And an entire second book since then :)
@@christalunn1143 Sounds great!
I love Jenna's channel, so I felt compelled to give her book a read. English is not my first language, and sometimes I struggle to understand some things. So, I thought I'd see if I could find the Spanish translation online. Turns out there's no Spanish version yet, which is a bummer. I ended up deciding to buy the book anyway and just keep an English dictionary close by. But I found an outstanding amount of bad reviews. I'm shocked at the number of people saying she promised more than she delivered with the book. Her advice is so good and specific. A lot of people commented about that, but they also said she failed to follow her own advice. I'd like to see a video about this. Maybe not by Jenna herself, but it'd be great to see what and where those discrepancies regarding her advice are.
I always hope beyond hope that this will be the novel that my editor says is great and needs few changes. Then when I get the truth, I sigh really deeply, take a week off to process, and then jump hard into the edits. I am glad to hear that I'm already doing most of these in my own editing, though I like the idea of trying to use colour coding again. I attempted to do it with my first novel and... well, my first novel was unsalvagable, so I didn't try it again. That was over ten years ago though and I've since published. Its probably worth relooking at again to see if it will work for me now. Thanks.
Over the years, pantsing has been how I write. I have written some decent stories that way... but the latest attempt was not particularly great. I was getting frustrated trying to edit it because it seemed impossible to make something decent out of it. So I took a step back and decided that I'm going to rewrite the whole thing. This time, doing what I have never done before... plot outline!
So... I get to rewrite the first draft all over again... yay? Well hopefully I can produce something I can actually work with this time... but this is the first time I'm not pantsing this... so we'll see. And then I'll have this advice here to keep in mind.
Just wanna cheer you up in you attempt! I do in everytime after writing the first draft. Not really because the 1st draft is shit, but because the 1st draft for me is learning what story I should have written but didn't. My normal way of working is creating an outline AFTER the 1st draft, and what goes after this is the 2nd draft for me. Maybe you's better call yours the 2nd, too. It's not that discouraging imho.
@@dariakey5318 Thanks for the kind words.
Also... pantsing for the first draft then plotting for the second while taking to heart the problems from the pantsing attempt. Sounds like an approach worth trying.
ugh...the first draft IS the outline. come on man.
These videos always come at the best time! Would you recommend listening(I downloaded edit out loud thanks to you) to your first draft along with reading through it? I'm a stay at home mom and sitting down to read is... Scarce. Plus I remember you saying hearing it out loud helps you catch more mistakes
I printed out a hard copy . Totally different experience editing a paper book and not a screen.
@@ravenstower really helps to have a tangible result of your work. I'm not tech savvy so trawling back and forwards through the lap top is a pain . Marker pens and post it notes really helped kept finding errors like a character would pick up a 38 revolver and twenty pages later shoot a 9mm auto. Lot or errors like that
"That's why God created man first" -a sick burn of perfection. I love your videos
I'm definitely in the I feel like my writing is garbage category. Thanks for the encouragement 💕
I'll have to come back to this video. y'know. when I finish the book.
This is so timely! I started my second draft a few weeks ago but had no idea if I was doing it right. Thank you Jenna!
Congratulations. I'm looking to become a beta reader for other writers in order to help others but also to read people's work to get inspiration for my own novels. If you would like, I would love to read your draft. Let me know if you do.
@@surgeorosgo That's so sweet thank you so much! I'll keep you in kind when I'm looking for Beta readers :)
@@gabfthvf Thank you.
Me, watching this video instead of editing the first draft...
Thank you SO much for making this video!!! I have written a couple of manuscripts in the past and always get stuck on what to do after the first draft. I felt stupid because I was like, just edit it, it's simple. But I always got so overwhelmed and didn't know what to look for. There are TONS of videos and blogs and courses on writing your first draft but then not many resources for what to do after. So thank you x100000 because this helped me SO much!!! ❤
Not a Jenna video with a quick jab at pantsers. I'd love to compare my first drafts to a plotter and see how different they really are.
I know you've done answering before so here is my try. I've published my first novel however I have no media presence, I'm not really active on any platform. Basically I'm wondering if you have any tips/ideas how to build up some publicity specifically youtube? (I have a channel) I'm not a booktuber and have been thinking about let's plays and mention my book during those plays but I'm worried it'll come off as annoying since people would click on the video for the game.
When I was 11, I started a novel on the bus on a whim. Long story short, I gave up on it and then four years later decided to write the second half. I’m 16 now and I finished it last night. Is it awful? Absolutely. All I really care is that I completed something for once. I will say though, today felt strangely empty; I haven’t had an easy day in about a year.
Me still haven't halfway through: Smiling while crying
Me watching this even tho I just finished Chapter one 😢 of my book
“Take a break”
Its 5AM and theres 4 cups on my table, I think I needed to hear that
the fact that I'm both overly confident and overly insecure about my story😂
but on a more serious note, I just finished my first ever first draft and I was so scared about editing but watching this has calmed me down so much: thank you💛
I'm a screenwriter but this is definitely gonna help 😅
That's why god made men first.
Lmao and have to rewind 30 seconds. Then lmao again at the same sentence. 😂
Any recommendations on how to find a critique partner?
Thank you for being fucking awesome, Jenna!
I have a new (better) story in my head and just finished the first draft of another story, do I write the 1st draft of the new story and choose wich Im goin to edit of the two drafts or edit the 1st draft right away and start new story later?
ps english is my 2nd language
This probably depends on how long the 2nd story will take you. A month would be a break from the first one, a year away would probably be excessive.
Personally, i would write what i feel inspired to write, and edit after. Inspiration to write is hard to come by and getting all those ideas on the page is most important.
Time away from your draft will also give you new insight when you return to it later.
However, this advice is specific to your situation, as i wouldnt want to start something new while in the middle of a book.
Also, all writers are different, so do what works best for you. If you feel like you won't edit it unless you do it now, then editing first is likely the best choice.
I'm still writing my African fantasy story and have no idea how to start the prologue 😭
lol i feel you. I have my entire book planned out but when it comes to putting it on paper. I cant pick the right words.
@@Alucard632 same and I have been working on this story for three years now
i started writing my Afrocentric fantasy novel before i even thought of the prologue. It may be dumb but it helped me plan a better one a little later 😭
@@yourmum741 what was your idea if you don't mind me asking?
@@malindashumpert7956 do you mean for the prologue or story in general?
For the last step i believe i am both types :D I mean i am 100 % sure my story is amazing but i am also 100% insecure about how i will manage to write it :D I mean most of the time i think that whatever i write down is a complete BS. But yes, I did notice how my writing improved ( with a lot) comparng the first chapterswith the latests ^.^ Great video as always! Thank you for being there for us newbies!
Me watching this even though I'm no where near done my first draft 😅
After finishing my first draft, I had it printed and sent to me and honestly? Reading it like it was a real book sent me on an emotional roller coaster, it was such an overwhelming feeling as someone who has tried to write a book since age 13 and never got past page 50. It was a lot of fun editing it this way too!
First attempt are always mess that's why he made men first 😹
What great timing! I just finished my first draft, and was wondering what to do next.
I liked the part about men first)
Definitely saving this for later.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🌹
From the same genre...... finding editors, proofreaders, beta readers.....plan ahead.....your right....and....YOU ROCK!!!
I was always told writing a first draft was the hardest part and here I was all proud of myself. Not anymore! Gee thanks Jenna!
Yo, Jenna, I got Both Books - calm down 😗
Just finished a short piece and have gone through like 50-million emotions. I need rehab and I want everyone to unfriend me... thats what finishing felt like lol.
>"It's okay! You can do it! The first draft is never gonna be great!"
You're right, I can do this!
>"That's why God made Man first!"
Well hold on there that's not nice lmao
Ah yes, I just started the outlining and worlbuilding process for my novel and plan to start the first draft in January. Perfect time to watch this video!
"That's why God made men first." BWAHAHAHAHA - truer words were never spoken. I'm a guy - I should know. I'm adding epigraphs to my chapters and I gotta use that, noted as ancient Earth wisdom. Can I, Jenna, pleeeease?
Enjoy your 1 star reviews LMFAO 🤣🤣🤣🤣 My first attempts at editing taught me how I can manage my editing process. My first draft of novel 1 is still shitty. So I've parked that and I am now embarking on my first attempts at editing novel 2 and it's going much better.
Me finishing my first draft and reading it : PANIC PANIC PANIC
Jenna's video : Don't panic, it will be alright !
4.18: Last year I wanted to publish, the urge disappeared lucky, so I left my story alone, went back there and ended up re-writing it, because of lack of spaces....glad I didn;t
Jenna, I agree wholeheartedly with you when you say that resting is necessary after that much work. I usually do all of my resting after I received my ass-load of critiques. I recently made so many embarrassing mistakes with my WIP that I swore I would take a LONG vacation from working on it afterwards. Turns out I only needed two weeks before I eventually created a problem/solution chart, which included developmental issues that needed solving, characters that needed profiles, and topics that needed further research. I’ve got a LOT of work ahead of me, but at least now I know what the fuck I need to do.
I'm so F***ing excited!!!!! I hit the 50,000 word mark in my first draft. That's less than half of my book, but it still feels good lol
FINISHED the first draft? Jenna is so cute sometimes. 😆 I finished the first act of the first draft though... so that's something. Characters are beginning to jump off the page and offer insight into who they are now (2 characters have done this in 2 days now, pretty exciting and possibly a sign of a mental health issue). Anyway you know those lights that dot the inside of tunnels? Well, I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet, but I think I see one of those lights...
I love this little metaphore for first drafts.
A first draft is like a raw slab of meat just chopped off the carcass. Doesn't look good, does it? Its weird and graphic and you absolutely would not want to set this on the dinner table.
Edits and critiques and the game plan are like the knives and spices. It will take a while, but if you just keep carving and marinating and seasoning, eventually you'll have a godly steak just thirty minutes of fire away from its full potential.
Know this: it won't be perfect. Not everyone will like it. Some people like steak done rare or well done, with plenty of fat or as little as possible, and some people are vegetarians or vegans. But the important part is that you made it, you like it, and did everything you could.
Hey, next time you carve yourself a steak, you'll know more about garlic levels and fire control. Getting advice from fellow chefs, like Jenna, will help you immensely.
My problem is: I'm planning a comic... i'm trying to finish the first draft of the story while also agonizing over... *everything else*. Send help pls
Hi Jenna, I'm using novelpad and I love it,
I'm still a while away from finishing my first draft, but I wrote your self-editing steps down for future reference. I imagine it will be a huge pain in my ass as I've made some pretty big changes to the story since I started, so the developmental edits are going to be big
Hey all, just wanted to drop a comment to commend Jenna for The Savior’s Champion, I was going through a time of not reading a lot, but couldn’t put it down after I started, it was a serious page turner and now I’m impatiently waiting for the second one in the mail.
I’ve been watching this content for ages and hadn’t bought her book but now I am hooked. I’ve read a lot over the years but this makes my top 3.
Recommend you all give it a go! Goodness!
I'm NOT arrogant - I DO believe that my writing needs re-writing and polish. But when I finish a story, I'm so in love with the characters and the story that the flaws are invisible to me. I know this and lean heavily on volunteer beta readers. Then, when I get to pro edits, it's shorter, cheaper, and less painful.
Does anyone have any good Critique Partner group recs? Specifically Dark Fantasy or Dystopian themed. I have one trusted Critique partner but I am looking for more to jog me out of my plotting problem and future help. (I also love giving edit advice and don't hold back on the details haha)
I’m not sure if this would help, but you could read chapters in steps. Like comparing chapter 1 and 3. Not literally with the scenes going on, but with the writing itself if there’s any repetition, missed scenes, etc.
8:53 You described my best friend and I XD She's the world-builder and I'm the character builder
Jenna: so you’re probably done with the first draft.
Me who hasn’t completed chapter ten of my draft: 👁👄👁
But Jenna! I'm color blind so I can't color coordinate my highlights ha! Real statement, but not a real problem. I've become a king of work arounds!
'If you're watching this video, there's a good chances you've just finished the first draft of your novel.' .... (Orrrr my notifications told me Jenna be posting so I come running without reading the title of the video at all 😅 fangirl gotta do what a fangirl gotta do!)
Do the 2nd draft
Thank you so much for the video, Jenna! I personally have a severe problem with wanting the first draft to be as perfect as possible. (I think it stems never editing work in school and still doing well.)
Having a professional writer be so open about the writing process makes the daunting task of retraining my brain to be okay with an imperfect draft feel much easier to accomplish. Saving this video to rewatch in case I start being too critical of a first draft again.
Thank you again! ~ From a writing hobbyist 💛
I'd like everyone's opinion on Jenna's final point, is it necessary to give ourselves props for what we do? It feels like awarding ourselves a gold star. What's needed is the drive to divorce ourselves emotionally from our ego as writers, push past the shame we feel at every mistake and do what is needed to correct, revise and improve, not feel better about ourselves in a braggadocious way.
How is novel pad for those who are writing scenes for movies/games? Any tips/feedback from those who have already tried it?
Omg the first attempt is always a mess thats why god made men first. IM DYING
Until a developmental self-edit is done I don't even consider it a first draft. Getting scenes on paper is just part of the process for me, and during that developmental pass you will probably add/delete/move/rewrite scenes anyway, so may as well just consider it part of the initial process. Besides I like to write on paper pads with note cards taped to the wall for tracking, then do the edits as I type the story into the computer. Love the feel of pen on paper.
I'm only half way through my draft, but this question of "what do I do once I finish?" Has been on my mind for weeks. So this was timely!
Ditto, I’m in the same place 😂🤣😂
I'm starting my first draft...... But yeah, I'ma watch this now, cuz Jenna.
Jenna: "Six months is a long time." Me: "...so what is five-and-a-half years?"
Finding a critique partner sounds terrifying. I suck at asking for help, even paid help.
Me, a hobby writer who just publishes chapters as they get done, so this doesn't really apply to me: Ah, yes, very helpful.
Hahaha, the first of everything is always a mess that's why God made men first. I love this - your attitude is so sound, and the content is so helpful. Thanks!!!
Many thanks for this i knew that I would have major problems with edit do I wrote mistakes into the structure of the story.
The deliberate mistakes I hope will bury or set the tone for the ones I made by error. I wrote to keep my head straight during lockdown never meant anyone to read it but it's now being professionally edited and published. But the truth is I would rather set my hair on fire than edit a book again. So this content is really helpful to me as I nearvthe end of the follow ups first draught
this is super helpful.
I'm collecting beta readers, but still paralyzed by the future steps...even after making a plan
thanks
"That's why god made men first."
I'm fucking dying.
I haven't even got pass the first 2 minutes of this video and I like her already :)
Everybody makes mistakes. That's why man was made first LMAO
God may be a Human "first draft" luckily ones kids are the Finished Product.
I need help with how to describe a new house scenario!! I don't know how to describe certain things and what to leave out and what to include. Please help!!
I tried to do some rewrites right after I finished and it didn't go well. I took a break and went back to it and found a sentence that made me say "was I drunk when I wrote that?" (I wasn't, I don't drink and write lol)
So while you are writing your first draft you also edit it sometimes, in the process? Now I'm just writing without editing and the idea of reading it scare me
Have a beer and kick back... for tomorrow you read it and the re-writes begin 🍺 🕔 📝 😔
That music playing in the background is horror movie creepy.
I didn't do nano this year, but I've done it in the past, and have a first draft that I've attempted to edit. I'd left it so long between the writing and the editing that I'd forgotten most of it, and then got stuck in an endless loop of editing the first couple of chapters. God help me If I ever write a full novel lol
The first attempt at anything is always a mess. That's why God made men first 😂😂😂😂