As I looked out at the new sod on part of my yard, I couldn’t help but notice how wonky (yes, that’s a technical term) it looked. I longed for the patchwork to blend in with the rest of my yard.
I then remembered that it was less than two years ago that my entire yard was a patchwork of sod as I moved into my house. The landscaping team told me it would blend in over the next spring and summer. While it felt like it took forever, they were right. My yard is now a thing of beauty.
Writing the first draft of a book is no different. A first draft is a little wonky, imperfect, and a combination of moving pieces. But the second draft…. The second draft is a thing of beauty and cohesion, just like a healthy lawn.
I bet you didn’t have a comparison of your lawn to a book on your bingo card for today. Let’s dive in.
It’s a Patchwork
Similar to fresh sod, the first draft of a book may feel like a bit of patchwork. Of course, it’s written with the intent for it all to flow together. But in a first draft, there are a lot of moving parts that cause chapters here and there to be moved around to accommodate the actual content.
Manuscripts often differ from the outline. As the book actually starts to come to life in the first draft and new ideas pop up, things shift around. The order changes. New combinations of content are formed. The jigsaw puzzle starts to come together.
In the second draft, the writer is able to polish the flows and transitions to make the reading experience seamless and aligned with the goals of the authors.
It Takes Time
Just like sod can’t be rushed into becoming a cohesive lawn, a first draft shouldn’t be rushed into becoming a second draft. Sure, the pace at which a first draft becomes a second draft can vary from author to author depending on their goals and deadlines. But to get a quality second draft, it’s important to take the time to really review and edit it.
It’s important for authors to take the time to review various parts of the first draft: how does the order flow, is there any content missing, is there any extraneous information, does the writing capture the essence of the author, are all parts of the book aligned with the intent of the book and the theme, etc. Rushing from a first draft to a second draft may mean some of these stones remain unturned.
Not only is it important to make sure to review various facets of the first draft, but it’s also important to give your mind time and space to process. For example, when I write something, I generally won’t review and edit it the same day. My mind needs some separation from it to be more objective and to process whether there’s anything else that should be considered.
Some Won’t Stick
Just like new sod, some pieces of the first draft may not take. A big part of reviewing the first draft is ensuring that the appropriate content is included. This means that some content may need to be removed if it no longer fits, and some new content may need to be added in.
Oftentimes in a first draft, it’s best to put into writing anything you think may be relevant to the book (within reason) even if you’re not sure. It’s always easier to pare down content later than to add more content in. That being said, content will very frequently be added after the first draft.
The content that gets added in may be content you planned to add all along, but you wanted to get the other supporting pieces in place first or it may be content that you realize is a key piece of support once you read your first draft “cover to cover”.
Expecting perfection in a first draft is unreasonable, and quite frankly, a dangerous game to play. Writing a book is a long process with a lot that goes into it. The first draft should be refined in order to make the maximum impact that you desire with your book.
If you want someone else to do the heavy lifting of laying and maintaining the sod that is your book, let’s chat! Book a free strategy session using the button below.
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences with those who may find them relatable and helpful.