5 Tips for the SECOND DRAFT SLUMP (aka editing your book's first draft when you don't feel like it)

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

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[@reneebarrette4514]

Done!

[@chloelianna]

Me decides to start second draft: ✍️ ✍️ ✍️ Also Me: I'm gonna make this way harder than it needs to be.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Haha yes!

[@Exayevie]

Im working on a second draft for the first time ever and I’ve never related to anything more.

[@5Gburn]

I've got 200 printed pages staring me in the face. This couldn't have popped up at a better time!

[@DeborahPettit]

I have always enjoyed editing my work, whether poetry, essays in school, or my books. I know, I’m a little weird. I get a little adrenaline rush when my beta readers help me make my book better. It takes a village 😊 Thank you for all your videos. They have helped a ton!

[@amandajkrieger]

This could not have come at a better time. I'm so nervous about editing my NaNo novel, which happens to be my first-ever novel. Thank you for these tips! I'd love a video on developmental edits!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yay! I'm so happy to hear that it was helpful! You've got this! And I will add that to my list (most likely for 2021 haha)! :D

[@bearbobby1]

Perfect timing! I’m working through the first draft of my book right now.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yay! So happy that it's helpful. :) Good luck, you've got this! If it's hard, that means you're doing it right haha!

[@dawoodjaved6371]

Me too. I'm working on a YA Fantasy ( witches, royalty, romance...)

[@mccadedolan1485]

Thank you for all of your videos! I have been binge watching as I’m in the finishing stages of my very first novel. I was starting to obsess over word count and remembered, it’s not the amount of words but the story being told. I can see how much you enjoy the complete process, not just writing a story but putting your book together much like an artist painting on their canvas. I’m reminding myself to enjoy each step of the process, keep it fun and keep the passion alive!

[@creolecreatrix]

Sooooooo helpful!!! It's been months of on and off editing for me. I was starting to feel so discouraged, but your tips and knowing I'm not alone in this struggle are super motivating! I'm excited now!! 😁😁 Thank you so much! 💕

[@MissHolliday3110]

YES A VIDEO ON DEVELOPMENTAL EDITS! If there is a checklist of what to look for during that part of the process that'd be helpful. Also, how to do major revisions, i.e. changing plot details, editing a character.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Awesome, love these notes! I've got it added to my list, probably for 2021 haha!

[@BlueBerriesInABox]

Yes! A developmental edit video will be great

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

I'll add it to my list! Probably for 2021 haha

[@faithful_otaku7339]

Thank you for this video. I just finished the first draft of my book but didn't really understand where to begin when it comes to editing.

[@francescaw4277]

Would love to see a video on developmental edits 😊

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Awesome! I'll add it to my list (most likely for 2021 haha)!

[@jeremyfee]

It's so nice to see the editing advice and discussions this time of year. Good luck not getting in the slump this time around.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Thanks! :D

[@highlandwildernessstablean3831]

This was super helpful!! Thank you so much!!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yay so glad to hear it!

[@the_bookish_took5348]

Thanks for this! Just the idea of editing overwhelms me! Yes please to the developmental edits video!

[@reneebarrette4514]

Love the explanation of the different types of editing. Though I may not catch all of the KZbin videos out there on our craft, I feel like this is an area that can be super confusing so I'm so happy to see some focus on it!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!

[@aisazia]

Those are the spots I get stuck too for editing! I appreciate the tips Bethany!!!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Glad it was helpful!

[@maeheller9657]

Thank you for this! The first round of edits after drafting struggle is REAL. I feel paralyzed sometimes 😭 The Heart Breathings videos on this are super helpful, which I'm sure you already know 😊

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

So glad it was helpful! :D

[@EricaLucasLoves]

I’m in second draft slump!! This video is perfect.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

So glad it helped! :)

[@WriteHollyDavis]

Such a great vid! Thanks for helping us get through the 2nd draft slump. I feel prepared to tackle my edits in a few weeks with these tips. :)

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Yay! You can do it!

[@tranquilreader6649]

I enjoy seeing how authors each have a different way of editing. At the moment, I'm busy editing a collection of contemporary short stories I wrote earlier this year - and since most of the story is set up where it needs to be - I'm focusing on doing what line editing I can, and doing tiny tweaks of developmental editing where needed. I'm working through Sarra Cannon's (from Heart Breathings) 'How to Edit Your Novel', and so far it has been very enlightening. The biggest thing I'm seeing in my manuscript at the moment, is repetitive words - and I'm seeing if I can either cut them out, or replace them with another word. Just this one thing has been a very big eye opener for me - and I'll be watching out for it in the future when I do more drafts. : )

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

That's awesome! I need to watch her series. I agree there's so many different ways to approach edits! I feel like I need a new approach for each book haha

[@lorifayre]

I really needed to hear these! Thank you so much :)

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Glad it was helpful!

[@elrancho8700]

Am I the only one who writes as they go? I’m writing MG at the moment and my chapters are only around 2500-3000 words but I don’t usually move on to the next chapter until I’m relatively happy with the last.

[@havvaalexander9520]

This was great and I would appreciate a video on developmental editing. Thank you 😄

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Thank you! I've got it added to my list, probably for 2021 haha!

[@tmwhatif8630]

I'm almost done with my first draft. Having second thoughts on how the story flows. Chapter 1 takes place in the present with a action suspense scene. Chapter 2 goes back decades and starts from the beginning but also has an suspense scene. Do you think a story flows better if it is told from the beginning to end over jumping around? Chapter 1 starts 3/4 of the way in the story and it is a horror/super natural story.

[@cleopatra308]

Great video, useful tips. Thanks very much. I miss penny!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@brookdwyer4554]

Thank you. Your videos are so helpful. Almost finished with my first draft. NaNoWriMo was so much fun and I want to take the next few months learning all of the next steps. I have a question about Beta readers: how do you find them and how do you share the manuscript and get feedback.

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

So glad to hear that! And I can definitely help with that, I actually have five videos on beta readers haha! Here's my beta reader playlist for all of that fun info: kzbin.info/aero/PL3IFBPbxQRyqamqUdk8eV4n5YO813X61g

[@wismeiry31]

Does anyone have any tips for word count? I have about 30,000 right now, but for my next round of writing I want to get it to at least 50k, but I also don’t want to over stretch out the story😢

[@canibethewinner]

Do you have any tips for working with an editor? Thanks!

[@AstroPlayser]

Question, instead of directly editing your first draft can you just…rewrite the whole draft? Not an edit, a whole new copy.

[@Kailandra29]

Of course, if that's what you want to do. It's your writing process. You can do whatever you think would be helpful to you, and you reserve the right to adjust your process at any time.

[@mattmallecoccio8378]

My first draft isn't even 10k words. It's not even a novelette. I am an underwriter and I need to know how to expand the story to make it closer to novella if not novel

[@phirelily2818]

First round where I actually transfered the story from paper onto the computer, totally fine, exciting even, but working on draft 3 now....le sigh. I have a serious case of ennui. :( The ups and downs in my confidence have been constant from the beginning, but the downs are really long and the ups far too brief now, like a roller coaster for children. D:

[@lavenderm9062]

Currently no dislikes. *As it should be*

[@lukesoddlife]

So I've just finished my first draft AND..... it's 200,000 words 😭😭😭 I have so much editing to do 💀

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

Haha good luck!

[@lesleybarklay798]

Ha, ha, ha dumpster fire. Yes.

[@the_bookish_took5348]

Thanks for this! Just the idea of editing overwhelms me! Yes please to the developmental edits video!

[@BethanyAtazadeh]

It's a tough job! And I've got it added to my list, probably for 2021 haha!