HOW TO EDIT YOUR FIRST DRAFT

[@sararosales2569]

For this purpose I like to think of stories as houses. You've built a house, congratulations! But before anyone can move in (enjoy the story) there are some checks that need to be run. Structure: Is your house structurally sound? If not, you may need to do some foundation work to fix what is not up to living standard. This is where you check that your plot points tie into each other and, because we follow Abbie's teachings, we ensure our internal conflict is sound throughout. Interior design/decoration/furnishing: Making the house look pretty and functional.This is essentially copy-editing, where you make sure you are using the words you want to use and that the language on the page matches the story you want to tell and how you want to tell it.

[@wismeiry31]

Wow, this really put things into perspective

[@wolf-ix9uh]

for some reason, I'm suddenly motivated to write a book despite the fact that I'm in the middle of exam season :"0

[@AbbieEmmons]

DO IT

[@wolf-ix9uh]

@@AbbieEmmons awe, you replied! I definitely will :'') thanks for the encouragement haha :))

[@uishaggy8552]

@@wolf-ix9uh did u do it

[@lade18]

@@wolf-ix9uh Did u do it!!!????

[@wordsonNewYorkHarbour]

@@wolf-ix9uh Did U do it!!!!!!????????

[@tigistzalka]

I actually love editing

[@reagame8700]

HERESY!

[@sharoncastle2177]

Lucky! 😂 Lol

[@wordsonNewYorkHarbour]

I had to outline the book again after i'd already written it, because I found abbie at chapter 41/51 and I realised how bad it really was.

[@wordsonNewYorkHarbour]

I had to outline the book again after i'd already written it, because I found abbie at chapter 41/51

[@justClaya]

Same! Editing is my favorite part in all honesty! At least, when I edited my short story. This is my first go round with a full length novel xD

[@mggilleshope6828]

Very good advice. I do my synopsis chapter by chapter in my folder before I put it all together. That helps me remember what each chapter is about. so I can write the synopsis with less fear. It works for me.

[@country4man]

After having authored three volumes already, I find Abbie has given me much needed ground rules for getting me back on track to a more productive, and less frustrating, productive workflow for moving on to my fourth book, Very, very good tips throughout. Should be essential listening to for every budding author. Great series Abbie!

[@bpoullos]

Ah, editing... My nemesis... Great video, Abbie, as usual

[@pragyashashidharan7098]

Thanks for the advice! I still remember my book's first draft The 'Gem of Portia'. I spent a lot of time polishing it and correcting my mistakes. At the start, I was worried about the whole editing process but it was actually fun.

[@Aust51989]

I am actually editing my first draft of my book as I listen to this video!

[@rissarissaroo]

Editing is my favorite part of writing! Drafting is what I despise.

[@oddeyes9413]

😬😞😣😖😫

[@Gossamer367]

Big thanks to Zahra for taking the words right of my mouth! This was an amazingly helpful video.

[@maggiehenderson9685]

A real-time editing video would be super helpful! :D I love the distinction you made between “story” and “writing,” and since I’ve always struggled with the “writing” part, seeing that editing process on screen would be amazing!

[@aetherel]

I’ve been working on my current WIP series for years - suffice it to say the plot has, er, shifted... I need to do some developmental editing just to make sure the various parts make sense and the plotlines I decided were unrealistic can be replaced with ACTUALLY REASONABLE things. Sigh. With that aside - I loved this video, and it would be incredibly helpful to have a more detailed followup/real-time video as well!

[@lilybelleheller]

My whole problem is that I get excited about an idea so I rush into it with no outline. Halfway through, I regret that and do an outline, but I already have created so many timeline errors it’s insane. Thanks for the amazing advice on how to fix that!

[@anngomez4606]

Lily Bug Me too, sis, me too. I feel ya.

[@AbbieEmmons]

It's so hard to resist just diving in and wiring the first draft!! the struggle is real 😂

[@ebsfxxedits1038]

I do that too but for some reason there’s never many mistakes? Idk it’s like I automatically know what needs to go where for the story to flow. But what I usually end up doing is I start to write something and of the story is good then overtime I build up more and more ideas. Then I outline.

[@ebsfxxedits1038]

I kinda just write it down so I don’t forget (I can remember subplots but not so much dialogue)

[@nabilamiah3814]

@@ebsfxxedits1038 That sounds like a sign that you are a pantser. You go into writing with little to no outlining and it feels natural and enjoyable. Is that correct?

[@TorchwoodPandP]

An editing process video, yes please. Thank you for your insights.

[@emmakusmaul8832]

Dude yes!!! I wanna totally see a real time editing video!

[@jadejimenez3245]

i was so excited the watch this video because i just finished my first draft! thank you for all this wonderful advice

[@AbbieEmmons]

I'm so glad!

[@maudebissonnette5968]

Awsome video! I'm currently editing my first novel: and I would LOVE to see a live editing video 👏 It would help soooo much 😂 Your tips are always helpful, thanks so much!! 😄

[@Amy_Mi6]

This video has been out for 1 year, 7 months and 2 days...how am I JUST now watching it! #gold

[@dellieborton]

This is great! And yes a real time editing video!!!

[@DuandonlyDu]

sometimes i get lost in your eyes and had to rewind back the video again ! ❤

[@kurikong2379]

I deliberately avoided editing videos until I finished my novel. I'm proud to say I finished it yesterday and I now deserve to watch this 😭

[@oddeyes9413]

Person: *"I can scare you with one word, my writer friend."* Me: 🤨 Person: *"Edit!"* Me: 😱

[@LaraStatter]

no it's "adverbs"

[@chrisanthit.5642]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@garimakaushik4508]

How about actual writing? Then there's rejections, too.

[@katerinachristodoulou9878]

That’s so true every part of my outline must have an inner story

[@cadencev5572]

I dont deserve to watch this because I don't have a first draft yet :(

[@VacillisaPlays]

it's always nice to mentally prepare for something like editing a first draft hahah take your time getting there!

[@dahgurr4833]

the adorkable author the writing community is so nice wtf

[@mischiefmakerstudios9900]

If you don’t know, I bet you will have sooner or later. I say that because I do not have my first draft yet, but I just saw an interview with my fav author & found out he gets his ideas for his stories the same way I do, so I feel like the cyber bullies who told me when I was younger that I was not smart enough to write my own stories are now wrong so I am very interested in becoming an author some day.

[@oddeyes9413]

I'm writing and am about to start ch.8 out of 27. I'm mentally preparing myself.😖

[@loyaltheoristgirl1018]

Im finishing up the first draft

[@toriality6602]

A real-time edit would kick BUTT. I don't struggle much with editing, but I love your videos because they reinforce and re-motivate me when I struggle with creative/dedicated energy. Thank you for taking time and making so much amazing content.

[@AbbieEmmons]

WOW THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@toriality6602]

@@AbbieEmmons THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU!! No lie, I genuinely wish we could make some brownies and chat about writing together. 😂 Have a great day and x100 congrats on 100 Days!!!

[@SheegogProductions]

Thanks for this. I'm in the midst of writing the first draft, and I'm getting so discouraged with the words. I think my story is solid, so I just need to push through to the end and let it sit. This is exactly what I needed to hear.

[@zahrahaider3071]

Hi Abbie! Thank you for responding to my question! This was super helpful. After watching, I think I'm one of the rare people in between those two boats. I wrote a thorough outline in advance, chapter-by-chapter, and the story overall is strong. But I didn't utilize the "But/Therefore" or "Cause/Effect" transition between every scene and so I'm going to be doing a light developmental edit to make sure the plot continues to drive forward and my hero isn't just meandering around without a specific goal in each scene. I've been working on the story for 2 years now, amidst college and a full time job, so it's my baby and I want to make sure it's in good shape before I start pitching it to others. Thank you as always for your help in our journey!

[@AbbieEmmons]

Thanks, Zahra! I'm so glad you liked this video! And I totally get what you mean, I've definitely had similar experiences in the past with works in progress. I'm sure you will totally slay the editing process and create a masterpiece by the time you're finished!! 💛✨

[@maddieburnett4554]

Yes!! A real time editing video would be awesome!!

[@CrystalGhost456]

Thank you for the helpful video!!! I’m going to apply everything to my story and hope for the best 🙏

[@kkscorner6557]

Love your channel you have been so helpful during my writing Journey

[@dalemills2906]

wish i would have heard this before. My first draft I didn't even have my voice or how I wanted to write the story.so it was over nine hundred pages. Editing is my first name now. its half the size and now need to do that again. rewriting is my life.

[@sarahy.1498]

Love this video, Abbie! I hadn't even realized you hadn't really addressed this subject on your KZbin channel; it's definitely something I have been trying to get more information on. You need to do like an editing and revising SERIES, not just one video! (Please, haha) Also, your ponytail is super cute -- and that hair scrunchie...! How are you so many different kinds of awesome? 😆👍❤

[@AbbieEmmons]

AHH THANK YOU SARAH 💛✨ this comment brightened my day!! I'm definitely going to do a lot more editing videos in the future - it's such a big part of the writing process. I was only able to cover like the INTRO in this video lol… so glad you're here for more!!

[@MasDeNadiaEscritora]

You should have an online course. I’ll buy it! You’re so simple explaining this kind of things. Thank you very much.

[@left125]

El Rincón de Nagi I agree, that would be really helpful.

[@AbbieEmmons]

Thank you all so much!! I have definitely been giving a lot of thought to this! stay tuned! 😊

[@riverbright]

Low-key loving the bloopers XD Also yeah, a real-time editing session would actually be super fun! Edit: I see you're almost up to 4K, congrats!

[@AbbieEmmons]

haha thank you!! and I'm definitely planning on doing that video now ;)

[@Tawnyaise0]

The thing that always helped me edit my book is time. I started my first book almost a year ago, and really loved it, then I left it for almost 10 months, later when I opened the app first time after months, I was laughing at my book and was like, who wrote this trash(not self critical). Then I edited it, changed the story structure exept for the main thing which is twins and the female twin dies. Then I continued writing for months and took a break again (break gone too long because I am lazy)(don't do that), then I came back again and edited it again. Each time I edited, my story got better and better. So it was like: Write - Break - Edit - Repeat

[@ilincastanciu2961]

You are a Godess! I cannot even say în words how amazing you are mad how much you helped me!!!!

[@softnora]

okayyy so my book needs all types of editing😂😂😂😂 thank you for the tips, they were really helpful now I'll go cry and pretend I'm editing😂

[@AbbieEmmons]

you're definitely not alone here!! I cringe thinking about how much editing my NaNo 2018 novel needs… 😂

[@rachana1259]

Omg this is really helpful. Thank you Abbie😇

[@AbbieEmmons]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nicoleanne7922]

Watching this after i finished my first draft, also after a year it was uploaded HAHAHAHAH

[@richarddow3918]

Inspirational video. I would like to see a live editing session.

[@MikaylaWhitaker]

I needed this! Thank you!

[@hanachelache66]

Thank you that was so helpful!!

[@RowKSky]

Favorite statement you said and any of your videos so far, and your bank account really is gonna suffer.

[@DawnzeenaMcGill]

I love your scrunchy!

[@imbored3063]

im struggling on my first draft. i am now happy with a certain idea that has a massive plot twist that changes the characters live and forces her to face her fear of the unknown once again. i'm only struggling with making my story so the plot twist wont be obvious.

[@Mark_Sotomayor]

Thank you so much.

[@NatalieThor]

Lol great now I have to reoutline my current WIP. Great tips Abbie!!!! I am thinking these might be some of the things that I have been having issues with. As always you rock girl!

[@AbbieEmmons]

So glad this helped you!! 💛

[@micahhearn4429]

Just finished round 3 on my WIP yesterday ugh!

[@AbbieEmmons]

YOU GOT THIS

[@charmainesims4600]

Hello my friend! Watching this has made me want to start writing my 3rd book. I Indie published my first two books (1st end Dec 2017 & 2nd end Dec 2018). You are so inspiring and now I have so many ideas running around in my head for a 3rd book... what to do... what to do xoxo

[@AbbieEmmons]

I'm so glad this video inspired you, Charmaine!! That's so awesome you want to write your 3rd book! 👏✨ GO YOU!! rock on. ;)

[@maddieburnett4554]

Thank you so much!!! I Love your videos! They have helped me so much!! Could you talk about showing vs telling in writing?

[@AbbieEmmons]

Thanks for that suggestion, I'll definitely do a video on this topic! :D

[@ftalmage8435]

This video was really helpful for smaller issue stories (maybe just for me😂), but could you do a video on how to rewrite a story? Like if it's so far to the point where you need to actually start a new document to fix your story. Thank you and love your videos!

[@AbbieEmmons]

I want to do a real-time rewriting video for this specifically!! But for now, I did post this video a while ago about rewriting a manuscript (more basic, but I hope to dig deeper into this topic in the future: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYqkdIJqqKejfKs

[@bookishwriter9460]

I hate editing because I don't outline my novels before writing them at all, the ideas appear in my head while I'm writing. And because some of those ideas don't fit the book I'm working on while they appear in my head, I hardly ever finish anything. It's actually the first time for me to actually finish a novel even though I've been writing for about ten years now. I went through my entire book (135.000 words, yes, I'm serious. I'm German, Germans love wordy sentences.) and wrote down what needs to be changed about the story and checked whether or not the character's actions actually make sense considering their character traits because I didn't only not outline the plot but neither did I know the characters before writing them. After characterizing every single one of my characters, my brain felt like a giant mess of a knot. (Your fear-goal video helped a lot, by the way. Before watching it, I didn't even once think about my characters' goals or fears.) Now I'm almost done with story related editing (which I call Mayor editing because the changes will have an impact on everything that follows in the story) but it still feels like a mess. So I guess I'll have to start Mayor Editing Round II... The problem is that I, as a perfectionist, just can't focus on the story when there's something wrong with the writing. So I always get caught up in copy editing (which I call minor editing because it has little to zero impact on the plot) instead of focusing on the work the plot or the characters need. I think I'm going to outline book two so I don't end up running into people, doors, walls or falling off stairs (actually happened, but I'm okay) because only 5 % of my brain isn't occupied with thinking about my book or trying to figure out what the hell it is that drives that sort of evil side character I haven't quite psyched out yet.

[@cadencev5572]

Writers have been saying using the font Comic Sans prevents you from editing, thereby speeding up your writing. I'm not sure if this actually works tho 😂

[@aetherel]

Writing in a physical notebook might help - that way you can’t make major changes as easily till second draft. :)

[@bookishwriter9460]

@@aetherel I actually have a physical notebook. It contains the plot, a register of characters, my notes on the different species of supernatural people, their history and how their magic works. I actually wrote down everything that needs to be changed before I started editing. But my focus always shifts from the plot to the writing.

[@aetherel]

@@bookishwriter9460 What I mean is actually writing the story -- the prose, the words, the dialogue -- in a physical notebook. But it's great that you plan/keep track of stuff in a physical notebook! Interestingly enough, I do it the other way round. I keep track of details/plot/backstory/mechanics/themes/&c in a combination of computer documents and Post-its, and I write on actual paper.

[@Sidewalkman1]

It took me many many years until I appreciated the value of editing my rough drafts. I spent a long time under the delusion that it was the Editors job to edit. Yes, I was a lazy writer.

[@rhyahrobinson4616]

Yup, I am one of those converted pancers. 😅

[@posieandrosie]

you teach me more than my english teacher- (yes this is an old video but i mean)

[@totallyrandomhumanhuman3059]

i started my first novel last year. And within 2 months i completed it. But since then, my courage to go back and edit the mess is so freaking low!! I just don't know how to correct everything. It's so frustrating because i can't write something new , and i have to edit my first one. Its just too much work! Now i understand why writer hates doing editing.

[@Ari-se6xu]

I feel like that question wasn’t answered ...but good tips .

[@jules_hruu]

its hard--bc i feel like my first draft is missing something, not necessarily messy. i feel like ive written better work, and this first draft is getting more neutral reactions rather than "whoa this is super good!!" and its kinda discouraging me a little bit bc idk why THIS one is the messy copy, which is the one i wanna publish if that makes sense.

[@AndiandCalvin]

I posted the first chapter of a story on FB group and got many criticism. It looks like my style is too informal, more like telling the story rather than writing it.

[@otmanalami6621]

Hi..I'm trying to create a software for writing from the first draft to the final one with ease and the software will help you put all your ideas organized without effort so that you can be more creative, and it will help a lot who do all the work himself like writing shooting and editing because you can do all that work in the same time and place, help you not just in pre-production but also in the production and post-production... but I don't know if there is a big market for this type of software or not... what you think? Thank you for the video ;)

[@antuanvance]

It must be people who don't write their chapters in order that struggle with cause and effect. I can't imagine writing my novel from beginning to end and not having one chapter affect the next.

[@zenebornman7917]

I can't stay away from my book for three or six months. It's either a week or two. 😂

[@rhett-says-hullo4229]

new subbie here

[@chepan83]

I'm just having lots of issues put words down on the document. I get this great idea (even now I think it's awesome) but as soon as I go to re-read what I wrote I just keep thinking it sounds horrible. I think it may be a personal hump I have to get over as the writing style I'm using is no different from any other author nor is there HUGE grammar mistakes, etc. How do you combat that?

[@AbbieEmmons]

So this is definitely something I've struggled with in the past and I think pretty much every writer faces - wanting your writing to be amazing, but finding it lackluster. like you said, it's really NOT because it's comparable to other authors. I'm known to be kind of a perfectionist so I can get like this about my own writing a lot. It's really a personal thing, like you said. You almost…can't expect so much from yourself? I know that sounds bad, but it's so true! If you're doing your best, that's all you can do. Even if it's not blowing you away, chances are it's WAY BETTER than you think it is. And it might just blow someone else away. ;)

[@PeterMacansky]

[@oliviaelderberry9423]

Staying away from reading my books for three months is not a good idea for me. If I do that when I reread it I will want to change and completely redo it instead of edit it when I come back.

[@autobotyscorner6404]

The most difficult thing from this video was finding someone who wants me to succeed...

[@TaynaKeikolion]

How To Draw edit Your Draft Ebboe emmons

[@nourfourti6029]

Despite editing, I still face some grammatical mistakes as a non-native English speaker which sometimes I don't notice, and I can't find someone to help me and correct them 😔

[@inttubu1]

Oops its Abbie: one thousand apologies

[@huckmart2017]

4:40 I feel like this is incredibly short sighted. Cause and effect isnt always clear in life. Sometimes (most of the time even) things just... happen. Its messy. Structuring a book this way would feel too neat, and thus unrealistic. Boring even.

[@legiongamer-works-podcaster]

Fk editing :c ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️I guess ill try to edit mine xd

[@cowboyboots9]

Am I the only one who changes the outline a lot after the first draft??

[@inttubu1]

Abby..da earffff is flat! Free Tip.

[@neckpunch73]

I just started editing my first draft. And I had no idea how much I would hate the process until I started. Thanks for the encouragement and starting points. Now just gotta press on and do it.