First Draft Mistakes I See in Almost Every Novel

[@haiaokuwa]

You need to know that within 10 minutes of watching this video, I managed to trim 8k words from my 78k manuscript. (The software I’m using made that easy). It’s honestly surprising how much you can trim if you know what you’re looking for. I even improved the first line and the first chapter 10 minutes after that. So much happier with it now. Great channel and fantastic advice! Thanks a million!

[@AlyssaMatesic]

That's an incredible trim down! I'm so glad the video was helpful, this is exactly what I hoped it would do!

[@SpiderkillersInc]

What software are you using? I use Google Docs.

[@wlawrence7794]

@SpiderkillersInc I find Scrivener really helpful for planning novels and then fleshing them out. It's a chore to learn it, so go through the tutorial, but what @Alyssamatesic mentions about saving those characters also applies for scenes, and it's great in Scrivener. You write everything on virtual index cards with visible summaries. Build out your story with those, then write the chapters as they come to you. When it's time to trim, you can drop those unused index cards into a bin where you can pull them out later. One of my expired ideas became the catalyst for the manuscript I just completed.

[@cassandraslater5507]

I'm working on the first draft of a first book. It is going much slower than I expected but I've got over 16,000 words. Watching your videos is so helpful and its keeping me on track! Thank you!

[@gamewriteeye769]

So, a good suggestion once a writer has finished the entire manuscript, is to go in Microsoft excel or spread sheet software. Label the chapters, breakdown in that chapter all main scenes, side scenes, transitory scenes/scene breaks, label which subplot it follows, and then from there analyze what parts are worth cutting, shortening, or even extending to flesh it out. This video gave me a good idea how I'd structure it so it makes sense. A good thing to keep organized is to have a table of contents so you don't lose track of the page counts. Make sure you have a consistent range to follow along with your style for the book. As an example, I'm writing mine with 30 chapters and it could very well end up with 150-170k total word count (since 10 chapters in has 60K words). Really try to focus on that page range. Mine varies from 30-50 pages per chapter, which some exceptions being lower, but you get the gist of it. Organization goes a long way to making the flow feel natural.

[@Thomas_Stearns_Eliot]

You are my favorite booktuber/agent/editor channel right now. I typically hear the same mistakes and tips as the others, but you always add something different like a real example or tidbit that makes all the difference. Keep doing great work!

[@lindenstromberg6859]

8:35 - the strong beginning and ending and a messy and pointless middle, this is basically the description of all the books I've ever read from the youtube "3 act structure" gurus.

[@janicemacintosh5804]

I’m working on a first draft and made the mistake of handwriting a lot of it at various times. Now my struggle is enormous…I have to type or dictate. I’ll get to it this summer. I love the directness and professionalism of your videos.

[@lori5785]

Alyssa! Your videos are pure gold!

[@rivermay109]

I honestly though you were going to say, starting your novel in the wrong place as the first mistake. I’m so glad you didn’t - I see so many videos about the same sort of tips and mistakes, it’s nice to see a different perspective! Thank you for providing invaluable content that isn’t the same as every other KZbinr! :)

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Oh thank you!

[@johanwhiz2632]

Very helpful tips as I work on my novel. Subscribed. I have read that a novel is 50k (even 40k) words or more, not the 60k that you indicated in the video. Thanks for the tips!

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Glad it was helpful!

[@gordonduff22]

Makes so much sense. Concise and very well explained. Sort of like cheat notes for the writer or a road map. Really appreciate the content you are providing. ✔️

[@janicemacintosh5804]

You are wonderful with content and presentation style. Easy to listen to and concise. Thank you. Subscribed. 😊

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Thank you for subscribing! So glad you're finding my content helpful!

[@LorraineCareyAuthor]

The best advice I've heard yet. I'm starting a new book now and this will help immensely.

[@TheEccentricRaven]

I'm in my first draft, getting near the end, but it's been hard. As a planster, part panster and part planner, I wrote so much just to find the story and have so much to cut! I'll be so happy when I'm done.

[@ginaonyemaechi]

Another insightful and informative video. Thank you, Alyssa.

[@admiral_red_shirt]

Today I'm combining two flashbacks to one. Always great advice, thanks.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Way to streamline!

[@DalCecilRuno]

And I agree also about the beginning. World building isn't a good idea at the beginning in full infodump format. Very good advice here. Thank you.

[@waynegathers587]

Thank you for your sound advice. It was very informative. Most of what you said I was already avoiding. However, length is also a major factor in the success of the book which I didn't know. (60-90k words) I am still at the beginning of my novel with about 40 plus pages. Thx Alyssa for the info. I'll keep in touch.

[@sophiekearing6600]

Great tips, Alyssa! I'm really happy to hear 60K is a good word count!

[@richardetjames]

Great practical advice ; wish I had heard it before writing my first draft hit better late than never 🎉

[@andeeharry]

For first timers, it is quality over quality and the word count falls into place, depending on the genre itself...some is between 60k and 90k, but not always. It depends on the Publishers/agents idea.Also, Novellas are popular and some go for them. Messy part: I noticed this with films/books/TV shows. They start off well and then it just falls apart in the middle. Loads of them lately. All these rules, and yet, the film industry never follows it.

[@deep42blue]

Your videos have been so helpful as I’ve finished my novel and readied it for querying. My first draft clocked in at 203k words (for a YA historical novel!) I’ve cut it down to 98k, but could stand to cut more. It’s getting more painful.

[@LinzyTaylor]

Sounds like you have 3 books!

[@gamewriteeye769]

Oof that's tough. Always make sure you design the structure first and even if you have like a whole pool of lore ideas (which I do) for the story you're writing, not everything can fit into one story (cramming too much in) and many things have to be progressed differently to tell it faster. Historical fiction is in my WIP, but sometimes leaving things unanswered is for the best to leave the reader with questions without giving all the answers. It's what gets them to come back for more in a sequel.

[@Chinni_C888]

These are such interesting points because I've read popular books that I left like failed on all of these. But they were best sellers with thousands of good reviews on amazon. So part of me agrees with everything you say, but at the same time, I'm not sure if really matters. Maybe it is a case-by-case thing.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Writing is definitely subjective--some authors can effectively utilize certain techniques that would otherwise stick out like a sore thumb! I agree that it's a case-by-case thing--this video is just to point some common ones that I have seen in first drafts before. Thanks for commenting!

[@hillarycully]

Thank you, thank you for this channel!

[@jesbrimer3096]

Currently I'm reading through my cozy mystery after finishing my rough draft. Eeek! lol. I nearly at the end of my story and I've felt something is missing. I can't put my finger on it at the moment, but I do have to add at least 15 thousand words. So I guess you could say I'm plotting and editing lol. Your tips in this video was helpful, because I was thinking add some flashbacks. I'll be careful and not make the scene flat or pointless when adding some more backstory.

[@chimeiamv]

I have stuff over 200,000 words and I know I need to cut most of it, but I love all the scenes. It feels like a complete long series of events that are all important to really understand and appreciate the depths of the characters. I wish books that were gigantic places to infodump and include every little piecemeal detail of the story's universe were acceptable in the industry, but I can see why they're not. I wouldn't want to read somebody else's brain vomit either. I hope I'll be able to have a concise, good single story come out of this eventually, and then hopefully become successful enough to publish a databook where I can include things about the characters' lives and the society that I never got to include in the main story. Or, I could publish side novellas about them. I am super passionate though and would love so much to just share my characters with the world.

[@evalramman7502]

Kill your babies, a phrase I have read many times.

[@jylaraisingnora9232]

What I hear is a series 😅😂

[@fowles52]

Just for the record ... I'm a published mystery author and of my six books, four have come in between 92 and 95 thousand words. I've never had a problem or a question about length. 100,000 words is the real cut off, in my experience.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@rowan7929]

After writing several books, I try to keep the pacing as interesting as possible. First, I introduce the character(s) and the world they live in, without dumping everything at once. Then the action to show what they can do. Throughout the novel, more and more will be explained about the characters and the situations they face. This method seemed to work for the last few books. I sure have removed or added scenes I found boring or not enough explanation about the world/character. Had again no luck with beta readers so I hope my editor won't struggle too much next month.

[@kaylabrawner9379]

I feel you on the beta readers.

[@rowan7929]

@@kaylabrawner9379 The thing is, i got one, but never heard back form her. Even when I asked for feedback, she never did.

[@kaylabrawner9379]

@@rowan7929 I've had at least seven people for beta readers who say they love reading, but only two have read it. They liked it, but it was my best friend and my sister. I want to be sure that my book is good and do not want it to come from someone who loves me and will like it no matter what.

[@MariaMilenovasArt]

My first novel project was the one i was most enthusiastic about, but I made it too long, and I'm not sure how to fix it anymore. So i decided to take a step back and write a different novel, and then go back to the old one with a fresh perspective.

[@taggwest7259]

Great tips! Really appreciate the perspective!

[@williamchristison5180]

Brilliant!

[@Roma_eterna]

My ancient Roman historical fiction (or rather, literary fiction) has 150,000 words lol! I definitely need to cut a lot in my next draft! Basically it’s a character study of not a person but a nation. In this case, the Roman Empire is the protagonist, each of his personality traits represented by a given member of Roman society. The emperor, as his “head” of course stands in for his mind, which can sometimes experience a mental flux of sorts as leaders like Nero and Caligula are in power. The Senate is its conscience, while the soldiers are its muscle. And then there are the rest-merchants, slaves, etc-which form the rest of him. I think I tried too hard to include everyone in this rough draft.

[@damariuswingfield2144]

In short, the two main problems are: 1. Length and 2. Pacing.

[@Zoi-ai-art]

I am trying to edit my first draft right now and the first few chapters are bloated unnecessary content that should be cut. I can't just simply cut however, I need to fill the void with a more proper introduction of my story. That's my main struggle right now. This is my first book and just having a first draft feels like an accomplishment in itself though :)

[@mario5139]

Very helpful! Just found this channel!

[@kitwayne4891]

I need to revise the sermon scene in my novel. I think it's necessary for various reasons, but I don't know how to approach it. My MC talks to the priest afterward and repeats some of his thoughts, but I didn't want to do that for the entirety of the sermon.I don't think doing so would cut that much. As it stands currently, my manuscript is just over 95k words.

[@adrenalmedulla]

This question is about upper MG fantasy in particular. I have heard so many different things about word count, such as over 65,000 words is too much and other people saying that longer is okay for fantasy. I see books like Peter Nimble, which is around 90k, which I think was a debut novel. Am I shooting myself in the foot by writing one that is around 80k?

[@smallrose323]

Great advice!!

[@zakariazaki7513]

Thanks for video keep going 🤠 greeting from Morocco

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Thanks for watching!

[@markmarkel5120]

I think some of your opinions and ideas are well taken. You come across as knowledgeable. Writing isn’t so simple as getting right to the action, cut words and scenes to fit into neat little package. I well written idea/Story, doesn’t fit into perfect little formula to satisfy the editor. I am not sure I would bring my work to you to read. I’d be worried you kill any good idea, because does’t fit the mold.

[@SpiderkillersInc]

I'm currently working on a very, very ambitious sci-fantasy work which is absolutely going to warrant being rather long... but I absolutely know it's gonna need to be shortened once I finish my draft. Largely because there's so much I want and need to explore in it. I'm also drawing inspiration from Gene Wolfe and Jin Yong which is... ugh... What am I doing?

[@alaexanderhawkins6324]

High fantasy is generally up to 300k for established authors. My HF novel was 280k and my editor said that if I was able to get it down to 200k it would sell. But this really only applies to high fantasy. Low fantasy -- probably 120k or less. For all other genres everything else you said was spot on.

[@cobrakats7440]

Ok, that makes sense. I just commented "Imagine if A Game of Thrones" had been 90k words. That would only get to about Episode 4 of the show."

[@alaexanderhawkins6324]

@@cobrakats7440 Yeah... if GRRM's editor had gave him a hard ceiling of 90k, but he had the same plot points, it would have been ended one third through (and readers would have complained that nothing happened) or everything would have been so streamlined there would have been zero elegance to his prose and would have sounded like it was written with a pre-teen's vocabulary. But again, like I said, this is just for fantasy novels. In the main, Alyssa's advice is absolutely spot on.

[@pippaschroeder9660]

Can you do a video on writers block?

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Great suggestion! I will add it to my list :)

[@carllane6521]

I have an English degree and I'm wondering how I can go about getting into editing? Is there any certification that would be helpful or any other qualifications? Many thanks

[@kaylabrawner9379]

This means I need to go in and cut some things again. I'm at 96,000 words and have cut a lot out already to get it that short. I've been writing a sequel and have also been wondering if I could move some of book one to the second book. I just have to find the right place to do it. That's the hard part....

[@charlayned]

Interesting material if I could see it. But you've got Closed Caption off for this video and it's hard to hear. Yes, I do watch videos on CC, maybe one of the few, but I need to. Sorry.

[@jonathangamboa8605]

Careful 2nd perspective doesn't alter main perspectives view and kill tension.

[@ravensthatflywiththenightm7319]

I had a manuscript recently that was 139K and upon your advice it's now 118K.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Wow, that's a major cut! Glad the video helped!

[@ravensthatflywiththenightm7319]

@@AlyssaMatesic Thank you for making that video and giving us the advice we need!

[@kbrown749]

I am interested in writing something which could be real life. In real life you’re constantly faced with scenes and experiences you must determine for yourself if they are significant, or if they aren’t. In my writing I would like to include scenes, which may not be significant in the long run of the story. I think it adds to the mystery of the novel, even if the novel itself is not a mystery. I understand the need to be diligent in assessing whether these scenes add or distract from the storyline. If done correctly, I think they can make the storyline, more interesting by making it less predictable.

[@SureshKumar-ee9vk]

Thanks. I would like to have my story which is a literary fiction reviewed by a developmental editor. Just wondering if you have availability over the next month.

[@DalCecilRuno]

I agree about the insight in length. Adult sci-fi and fantasy allow up to 100k-120k, but anything beyond 120k is too long and we all assume is poorly developed. This is because of the whole world building aspect. At least, that's what I've heard.

[@gamewriteeye769]

Really, it boils down to the overall storyline. The style is also a big influencer in the length. I think most people write scifi/fantasy in third person because it's easier to explain everything quicker and it cuts the word count. Whereas, if you're going with first person, it can slow the pacing down and increase the bloating of scenes being longer. *EDIT:* Different subgenres have different lengths though. And combining them allows for forgiving a longer length. Bear that in mind. A lot of publishers these days from what I've seen out there, really want that blending in genres so it has a broader appeal.

[@tibbar1000]

Question: As the target audience continues to change do agents look for manuscripts written at lower reading levels in order to reach more readers?

[@sejensen92]

I've edited and revised my book more times than I can count and had several beta readers, yet I still find areas that aren't quite working. Making the book engaging and interesting while including only the needed information has proven incredibly challenging. Too little information and readers get confused. Too much and it's an info dump.

[@AR-mu4zq]

Yup it's an art not a science

[@ZaddyinaCaddy]

How’s the journey going?

[@michaelsobowale6842]

I’m new to your channel and you’ve given me a great advice. Just to clarify these tips apply to si fi and fantasy genres too right? Because I’m writing a young adult dark fantasy novel series and it’s my first time writing a full book and publish it and I want to make sure it’s successful and the story’s good.

[@ZaddyinaCaddy]

Do you think having a one time character is a make it or break it? I have two of them- and now I’m considering joining them into one, but also, I feel like the way they’re integrated into the story and the way the overall novel is paced, it works…. But i could be biased 🤷🏻‍♂️😂

[@digiminer]

My chapters average 2k words. Do you think this is too short? What is the best word count for a chapter?

[@MalikaBadambayeva]

Dear Alyssa, thank you for your uploads! In your opinion, is the COVID-related plot a new pet hate for the agents? Considering there is much more than just covid in the book, and considering it’s a middle-grade fiction.

[@lindadiggen9973]

Alyssa can you help me I don't know where to find an agent for my realist novella?

[@whycantiremainanonymous8091]

7:20: Balzac would stand no chance in today's book market...

[@fogblog723]

How long in your opinion should the build up of the story be before getting into the dirt

[@AlyssaMatesic]

In general, it depends on the story! But to be specific, the first ten pages of your book are foundational pages, as they should introduce the main character(s), setting(s), and plot threads of the novel. While it doesn't have to be super fast-paced, getting into the main issue of the book too far after these first ten pages can actually drag the book reading experience down. I have a video going over the novel opening process here!: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGiwiIKtoa2Zh6M

[@dragonchr15]

You should disclaimer this video that these tips are for new authors or non established authors… The big names can do pretty much whatever the hell they want because their name on the cover means $$$

[@Whispers.Of.Thoughts]

So I write novels each with more than 100.000 words Novel , more like a series so there is room for slicing and I am looking for someone like you to do the editing and bring it at a level of audience. Are you in business for hire as an editor structure writer for a possible novel series that could become #best seller?

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Depending on which genre you work in, I can certainly offer structural editing services for your books. Check out my full list of services here!: www.alyssamatesic.com/professional-book-editing-services#professional-book-editing-services-4

[@TadeoHerrera-r3u]

👍

[@cobrakats7440]

Imagine if A Game of Thrones was 90k words. It's about 250k words if not more. 90k words would only get to about Episode 4 of the show. Is it different for fantasy? Idk. 90k sounds extremely short to me.

[@tophat2115]

how is any writer sending an editor a first draft? It's drek! It should be at least be a complete rewrite and the second draft, possibly even a third!

[@kierarene6604]

God my first draft was around 150k 😂 Now that its done its 89k

[@AlyssaMatesic]

What a significant cut!

[@kierarene6604]

@@AlyssaMatesic For some reason when I first started writing I could never make it to the ending. Kept going and going. Ending up removing at least 12 chapters 😂

[@TheRoleplayer40k]

90k is too long...unless your name is Brandon Sanderson lol

[@bahhumbug9824]

Am slogging through The Iliad right now and really, really wish Homer had her as an editor because "easy, breezy" it is not and there are wayyyyyyy too many "Noble warrior X was the son of Y who came from Z where he was a shepherd and married a noblewoman who was the daughter of King A who descended from Kings B, C & D but really was the son of Mars" passages. Utter madness.