MY FIRST DRAFT VS MY FINAL DRAFT

[@lindacgrace2973]

"Art is never finished, only abandoned." was Leonardo da Vinci.

[@jacindaellison3363]

"You can't rush art." Toy Cleaner, Toy Story 2

[@captainpinky8307]

But you can overdo things. just look at George locus at the star wars franchise.

[@seanlocke9568]

Your first draft copy is really clean! My first drafts have so much of this: "We stepped into the room and [describe the room here]" or "She wore a [something nice, kinda posh, just a little daring]."

[@aiuchiha111]

Same bro same😭😭😭🕳🕳😃😃

[@risuwolf]

I "finished" my first draft about a year ago and every now and then I remember that there is an entire scene missing because I just couldn't quite get through it, so I skipped over it to come back to later...I never went back and it's still missing 😅😅😅

[@AProbablyPostman]

"Whatever that meant . . ." Proceeds to explain exactly what it meant. This is a good video to keep people from being discouraged when writing a first draft.

[@BrittanyandBooks]

I LOVED this so much. I've always wanted authors to actually give concrete examples of how their drafts changed!

[@deckardcanine]

I wouldn't mind pro authors sharing their embarrassing, previously unpublished early writings too.

[@KatharineFrancis]

Finally someone else who goes highlighter crazy! Haha I do the same thing in my drafts.

[@lydiamacclaren6413]

Sooooo true that editing never ends, you just have to decide to end it! I'm at that stage now with my first novel, the ending edits and there has to come a time where I just decide to let it go. It was awesome to see your first draft vs final draft, can't wait to read it myself!

[@paulapoetry]

Awesome. Your first draft seemed less of a hot mess than mine...! 😀 I find I spot different mistakes on the laptop, iPad, and printed copy, so I kind of use them all, to help with revisions. 💝

[@AbbieEmmons]

That's a great point, Paula!! I also spot different things on different devices. :')

[@joshuareid4654]

This is incredible Abbie. I'm currently still outlining chapter 24 of my novel and I'm just trying to understand the editing process before I'm done.

[@cranberrylatte2044]

wow, you are so inspiring! i’m almost 12 and want to be an author so i watch your videos 😃 great improvement!

[@girafficpark1113]

Same! Good luck to you!

[@hermionegranger1238]

Same! I’m 12 almost 13 and really want to wright a book.

[@shockingdocumentaries4255]

Young people like you have a HUGE advantage over OLD CHICKENS LIKE ME 🐓 You are still fearless, and ready to conquer the literary world. It’s beautiful to see. 🥰 When you guys are ready, please share your work with people you trust. I’m sure there are people who will trip over themselves trying to encourage you. God speed. 😘

[@IEatTooMuchSweets]

Im 14 and I also want to be an author

[@girafficpark1113]

@@hermionegranger1238 omg me too

[@tropetrinitytrilogy8533]

Not only was this helpful, but I really enjoyed your writing style! Thanks for the tips! Also who designed your cover?

[@AbbieEmmons]

Thank you so much!! 💛 I designed it! 😊

[@tropetrinitytrilogy8533]

@@AbbieEmmons you're really talented! That's probably the best cover I've seen made by the author! How did you make it?

[@pnwfisher2144]

tropetrinitytrilogy she said in a different video that she made it in photoshop, used a free site for all of the pictures other than I think 3 of the items which a artist made for her.

[@FablestoneSeries]

@@AbbieEmmons Your tutorials are some of the best i've seen online, (and I thought i had seen them all). They are PURE GOLD. But just wanted to give you one friendly tip, DON'T put internal thoughts in italics. It is a VERY common mistake most amateur self published writers make. There are three reasons not to do that. 1. A story is itself already a thought. A story, especially one in first person POV, is already a stream of consciousness. 2. If you have entire sentences in italics it prevents you from emphasizing a word within that sentence. Essentially you can't put something in italics that is already in italics. 3. The most important reason we don't put thoughts in italics is because 60% of digital sales are audio books, and this is critical information being lost in the translation to audio book. A simple rule for writing is to write your book as if it is being read to someone.

[@ariamakesvideos803]

I love editing! The problem is, I'm super bad at finishing first drafts of anything, so I often don't have anything to edit 😂 I have used colorcoded pens in the past, but not highlighters. I may have to try them next time... And you're right! Printing it out and reading through a physical manuscript is SOO helpful.

[@mishthemaverick8607]

I usually love editing. Right now my manuscript is a hot mess but I guess I'm seeing it through fresh eyes as it's a hard copy. Feeling a bit overwhelmed but I'll get there! It's amazing that your story is basically the same from draft one to that latest draft. I wish I had that staying power!

[@melanieannplans2666]

I am SO thrilled to not be the only writer who edits a hard copy of a manuscript! Your videos have been so helpful to me over the last couple of months (I’ve binge-watched many of them after the outlining series which pretty much changed my whole writing life). I am SO excited for the release of your debut novel, especially after the little sneak peak. Congratulations!

[@AbbieEmmons]

Thank you so much, Melanie!! I'm so glad you've been enjoying my videos! 💛✨

[@linanalli]

I NEED MORE BOOKS BY YOU

[@tinacamara8334]

I really like your old school approach to editing. This is really a cool process. 👌😎😎

[@MackenzieRae]

EVERY. TIME. I. WATCH. ONE. OF. YOUR. VIDEOS. I. FEEL. SO. INSPIRED. (I don't know why I'm typing like this, probably for emphasis). But for real though.

[@AbbieEmmons]

OMG THANK YOU KENZIE 💛💛💛 *hugs * YOU'RE THE BEST. :''''') So glad you liked this video and that it inspired you!!! and oh gosh the struggle is REAL to not edit while writing. wait do you have Scrivener?? the new version has this awesome feature called "focus mode" that highlights just the line you're currently writing and everything else is super transparent. IT'S AWESOME and v helpful. 😂

[@cowsrock1q]

Your room is my FAVORITE!!! It's so colorful, bright and clean. And your book cover is adorable!! Did you design it?

[@AbbieEmmons]

aw thank you!! 💛 yes I designed my book cover! :D

[@andrewp.8714]

I have to say, you have an amazing first draft. Literally thought it was your final version when you started reading it. My first drafts are so messy, confusing, and incomprehensible that I have to do major -major- revisions to create something close to acceptable.

[@keerthipavuluri2732]

I realised how much research u do to bring us the content simplified and meaningful, exactly the best advices we would search for. I was seeing other writer's advices , it just glowed in my head. Thank you so much Abbie❤️❤️

[@wordsonNewYorkHarbour]

When I opened this video I got an ad about finding the reason for why we do things and what motivates us. Basically Abbie’s life’s work.

[@brandyange1753]

I always print off my manuscript to edit. It helps to see it in a different format, to notice things I didn't before. I also have a few friends who are good at editing, so it gets read over quite a few times. I also like being able to scribble notes all over it, before actually changing the digital manuscript. I loved this video! I am in the editing stages now for my second book, and was losing steam. Now, I am ready to get back to it!

[@tayannelson3704]

Brilliant, as always. Cannot wait to get my hands on this book! 👏🏻👏🏻

[@AbbieEmmons]

Thank you!!!

[@qamarmasri9331]

That was so helpful. I want to try and edit the printed copy of my book. I of course I will have a color code! 💛

[@PiinkyPeyed]

Ooooh I hate editing! It's so tedious and it makes me second-guess EVERYTHING! I suppose that's why it's important to have other people check and edit your stuff too. They are usually the only thing keeping me sane during the editing process haha

[@melanieannplans2666]

I can totally relate to this! While I love editing because it is supposed to clean up your writing and make it reader-ready, I also loathe how it can make one second guess their talents. But it must be done!

[@wismeiry31]

Some things I don’t know if the audience will understand, when I read it, I understand, But that’s because I’m the author!

[@hannarose166]

Thank you for this video! Your transparency is so awesome and inspiring, I absolutely loved this! So helpful!! Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of your book 😊

[@happycrossing4141]

I saw your ad on a video I was watching, I love to write and I felt like this would be good for me! I've watched a lot of your video's and you inspire me to keep righting, I bought your book and I am reading it and I love it so far, you are a great writer and I support you!

[@jaredhaws8848]

DUDE WHAT A GREAT WAY TO OPEN A BOOK! Now I want to get the book and read it!

[@TheAwesomesauce3000]

honestly, I have changed my book over many years, huge changes plot, character tweaks, age ups, rewrites, removing characters, Its nuts! and honestly I cannot help but be surprised, your finished book looks amazing, but the draft before edits looks great too, I am surprised just how little really needed to be changed, oh my gosh my book is a totally different novel than it was, but it has all be good changes and totally needed to happen, I would love it if one day you would read it!

[@jmcmontanheiro]

Your first draft is very very clean, I'm super impressed

[@Queenebunoluwa15]

You are an amazing writer, Abbie!

[@kayleidoscopess]

I can tell you now. I’m buying your book. PERIOD

[@joelbedulla4]

Ikr the sneak peak made me interested too

[@christygetscrafty]

This was so helpful! Thank you for being brave enough to share a page from your manuscript and book. It was encouraging to see the progression. Your story sounds so interesting!

[@Maerahn]

Thank you for doing this! It's easy for us writers to forget that all of those amazing bestseller classics by famous authors didn't start out that way, and beat ourselves up because our own first drafts don't look as great as their finished products. I wish more authors had the courage and humility to show us things like this. I also print off my chapters to edit them, and sometimes change the font or print them on a different shade of paper; it's amazing how just making the pages look slightly different to how you see them on your screen can highlight errors that you never even noticed before. Having them read aloud back to you is also great for picking up missing words and clunky sentences; if you don't want to listen to/record yourself doing that, there are a load of text-to-speech apps (many of them free) that you can use instead.

[@kkscorner6557]

You should make a video where you don’t edit it at all because I like it when you talk for a long time you are so informative and so helpful!! I love how you explain writing if you don’t want to you don’t have to

[@ninaking8087]

I love your videos so much! Super helpful, and you have really good energy. New subscriber ✨

[@Storyteller2078]

100 Days of Sunlight. Such an awesome twist of a title, love it.😍

[@stevenboxleitner4612]

I have faith in my 1st draft again!!! lol thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@tonybounds1069]

'Started to' cry? "Did or did not," I cried.

[@amphoramorph2856]

thank you so much!!!! there are so many videos about editing but all they talk about is vague what to edit for not how to actually do it, like the physical processes. lifesaver

[@felixpetittjr.6472]

I printed them out initially and color coded and marked them up and made fixes. Then I started editing by saving each day and each new day would have a new correction, dialogue and scenes. Its great when you are looking for that tree-house building project and can't find it because you left it out to keep the time... I'm still looking for that great scene. Its somewhere in my inter-stitch folder! This folder keeps my scenes together and I add them to the story where I can. Writing is CHAOS! Fun chaos.

[@josefinasotes796]

This was literally everything I needed omg

[@iviebrooks7768]

MY HEART IS FULL. I love this and it inspired me on how to edit Uprising, on what I really need to do to edit it. Thank you!! I love the way you did the thumbnail, which is probably an odd detail to notice (especially since most times, I just need to see you uploaded for me to click on it, lol.) I'M SO EXCITED. I'm going to go buy some good highlighters and get to work. Love you, girl!

[@iviebrooks7768]

ALSO SEEING YOUR PHYSICAL BOOK HAS ME SCREAMING!!!

[@AbbieEmmons]

THANK YOU IVIE 💛💛💛💛 I'm so glad this video inspired you to edit!! wow that's awesome. *high fives* YOU ROCK. so glad you like the thumbnail too !! LOVE U GIRL ✨

[@TheNextBestSelling]

I'm on my 4th draft on my 1st novel and 1st draft on my second. Oof the 2nd novel is so rough right now. Compared to their older sister that's had lots of love and re-writes

[@memma1101]

THANK YOU SO MUCH ABBIE YOU ARE A LIFE SAVER I am currently trying to edit the first draft of my book, Daemonologie, and got really fed up with it because I hate editing. Now I see the problem- I need to distance myself from it. I distanced myself from my work for a week over spring break, but that was a while ago and I feel like I need another fresh start. I need time to advance my writing and come back when I can understand its flaws more clearly. I didn’t realize how much I needed a break until now. Thank you again for your lovely tips and for releasing this video at the exact right time!

[@AbbieEmmons]

I'm so glad this video helped/inspired you!!! honestly I wouldn't be able to edit objectively AT ALL if I didn't distance myself from my writing, so that is something I 12/10 recommend!! BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR WIP 💛✨

[@memma1101]

Thank you!!

[@aisyluuu]

Whoa, I never thought that looking at someone's improvement would be so satisfying 😯 You did a great job at this!

[@StephanieOplinger]

I loved seeing the side by side comparison! Thanks for sharing, so cool. 😁

[@johnnyb.5281]

I put all my info dumps, brainstorming, and rough drafts down on paper the old fashioned way. Pencil and spiral notebooks. I've helped out and have close ties to an independent charter like elementary school; which means I have access to have used spiral notebooks and all the slightly used number two pencils you can imagine. When it's time to clean the classrooms over the summer we get a lot of, "toss these out or take them home". So I'm on a mission with my writing to utilize and put to good use all the scrap spirals and half used number two pencils I can find. With the idea that 'a painting isn't a painting if it's stashed away and stored in a closet' I feel like I must write on every line of every page that would have been otherwise thrown away.

[@XavierLeong]

I just finished the first draft of my first novel today and am so nervous for the task of editing ahead of me, but excited to get started!

[@LuziSantos]

I really enjoyed this video and I'm struggling to revise a book I wrote 8 years ago... I've already printed it, but I'm such a professional procrastinator.... you're helping me a lot!!!! God bless, keep doing such a great job!

[@riverbright]

I'M IN LOVE WITH THE HARDCOVER COPY OF 100 DAYS CASUALLY SITTING ON YOUR DESK. AND IN YOUR HANDS. ASDFGHJKL. Also thank you so much for doing this, it was super helpful and you are incredible. I enjoy micro editing, but macro editing is a total pain in the neck, so for this next novel I'm going to plan better XD

[@deannaweir-smyth3114]

What's ASDFGHJKL. ?

[@riverbright]

@@deannaweir-smyth3114 Mostly me just flailing around and pressing all the keys on the second row on my keyboard because I'm too excited 😊😊

[@deannaweir-smyth3114]

@@riverbright Oh right😁🤔

[@AbbieEmmons]

THANK YOU GERMAINE!! 💛 I can't wait for everyone else to hold the print copies omgggg 💛💛💛 I'm so glad this video inspired you!!

[@riverbright]

@@AbbieEmmons Can't wait for August!

[@starfishray8929]

“I wanna give you a waffle for being so awesome”

[@officialname9817]

How I edit: Outline Act 1 Write Act 1 Edit act 1 Rewrite the outline of the act to include all the changes I made then move on to act two and repeat the process. Once I’m done I let my WIP sit for a week go through and edit it all then print it out and let it sit for three to four months.

[@dominiccruz1201]

Your video helped me better understand how to edit my writing. I just wish I saw it sooner before sending my manuscript out for printing. Lesson learned. Thanks for sharing.

[@stellbell6150]

Your videos are so helpful! I am writing my first novel and needed a little instruction on how to start this long and complicated process. Thank you!!!

[@sgreig97]

Feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed in my process. Thanks for this, great tips

[@constanzafaye5116]

Seriously, your videos are so stunning. I'm a tween and want to become a writer (I'm writing a book at the moment that I'm quite a bit through) and I feel like you're someone I can rely on for motivation

[@wordsonNewYorkHarbour]

100 Days of sunlight was read eight times by the author. Another book I like - the fourth book by a different author - was read twenty times. This is why you should listen to Abbie.

[@vaddlliinz3338]

I need another one of these, it’s so helpful 😭😭😭

[@brittany_wmsb]

This was so helpful, thank you!

[@pacitaalvarez5878]

I'm already hooked. Looks like I have another book to scavenger for now ;)

[@valerielinares2068]

I have a love/hate relationship with editing. On the one hand, I love it because I get to make my writing better. On the other hand, I'm a perfectionist and it's really hard for me to stop editing once I get going.

[@NatalieThor]

This was extremely helpful! I am editing revisions for my novel. So this gave me so much hope! I am someone who naturally hates editing.

[@lupitavillarreal9345]

Thank you for showing! Love your videos....

[@missdameenor]

Your methods are spot on, I can’t wait to start editing my own novel! Thanks for the great content!

[@yatharthsinghchauhan9161]

My process is quite similar to yours. I like too like to print out my manuscript to take a break from the screen. BTW your content is really good. 👌

[@ruth7499]

you write really clean first drafts!

[@rutepereira7628]

i already finished the arc but seeing the hardcover in there is making me get butterflies all over again, also i loved this video tons

[@AbbieEmmons]

OMG THANK YOU 💛

[@bubblegumbboy]

Mam it's beautiful, always metaphorical, thanks inspired. Awesome writing style!!!

[@hannahkay5800]

Can the 7th of August just hurry up please?! I'm even more excited to read your book now (I didn't even know that was possible lol) !!!

[@masonbushell5339]

Thank you Abbie, my 6th draft still looks like a terrible first draft!

[@fayz-dayz]

Loved seeing this process! My 1st draft wording can be super messy, especially during sprints lol. But I love editing. Probably because I’m a perfectionist😅

[@bookishwriter9460]

I hate it for the same reason. If I wouldn't stop myself from editing after like 5 rounds, I would be editing for eternity and probably starve in front of my computer. And I always feel like instead of improving my book, I could disimprove it.

[@fayz-dayz]

PinkDonut Unicorn i know that feeling. I’m in the process of pushing myself to keep writing and not looking back. I allow myself to edit what I wrote after my writing session ONLY ONCE so I’m not in that constant cycle. THEN. Once I finish a couple of chapters, I go back with a fresh mind. Just an idea for you🙃

[@bookishwriter9460]

@@fayz-dayz I will definitely try it, thanks!

[@KarpoCottage]

This has really inspired me to write my draft more, thank you!

[@abbendipity]

Your videos are really helpful. I do something similar. What I do is write my story in a notebook and then when I’m ready to edit, I type it up onto my iPad. I leave it for a couple days and then I’ll read over again.

[@rentonreva2047]

Thank you for sharing this!

[@ouiunautrenom4911]

That was so helpful!! Thank you for the insight!

[@elizabethking7691]

I literally can never say the word "edited" correctly LMFAO

[@bpoullos]

Another excellent video, Abbie. I definitely prefer doing edits on paper, whenever possible. For my current project, it would waste too much paper to print out and forced to work on the screen entirely. So hard to stay focused on it exclusively on the screen.

[@nourfourti6029]

Thanks for your video Abbie!

[@risuwolf]

I've only ever finished one story so far (and this was a year ago now jfc) and I also printed it out cause I find it easier to read that way, and cathartic to scribble my little edits onto the paper. I still have not finished proof-reading it and just feel like I need a second opinion on it. The two people I let read it didn't get past the first chapter. One cause I was self-conscious and took too long to send them the rest of the chapters (and now they're not friends with me anymore due to unrelated circumstances) and the other because I didn't warn her about the smut in chapter one and she never quite recovered 😅

[@user-ke6um5to8c]

Wow. Actually have done the whole binder thing too! Highlight colors and notes in eBooks on iPhone for smaller edits, though.

[@christianknickerbocker604]

Me watching: Hmm, hmm very good Me when writing: Okay first draft done, just a quick read through and then I can post 😂.

[@lisaeadesauthorandartist]

I am writing my vomit draft for my first book. I just find it so hard to get it written down. I keep going back to make edits straight away and it's taken so long just to write a little bit. I have re-written the first page about 10 times... but finally have hit 3000 words (so far) which isn't even a huge part of the book yet. So much to learn. So much procrastination. The last few days I have managed a couple hundred words a day which has been pretty good. Between two kids, part time employment and everything else, any progress is good progress. I am obsessing over booktubers a bit too much.

[@girafficpark1113]

"You'll know when your done, for now, just keep typing."

[@maudebissonnette5968]

Great advice! Thanks 👏 I basically have the same process, editing is rough at the moment, but I'll carry on! 😄

[@stevefritz5182]

Minor cleanup isn't so bad. I hate when I have to chop out an entire scene for irrelevance. I worked so hard on that. It is part of me! I feel a loss.

[@selahchelyah2491]

You're using the same font I do! I hate most fonts. XD And I LOVE editing! I do it on physical copies, as well as online, as well. Great writers think alike. :P

[@ThreeFunnySisters]

OMG YOU ARE SO INSPIRING!!!

[@itsnazaliyeva1856]

I love your videos! Do you make the book covers yourself? Or not if not then which book company makes the covers and more etc.

[@fiddlersontheramp5417]

thanks, this vidoe is amazing:)

[@stix.ed1tz]

I kinda edit as i go Im only on the 1st chapter of my book but i write almost everyday, in the morning before i go to school, i read over what i wrote the previous day and edit it a bit, then during lunch or after school i write normally lol

[@rejoice.greatgracetv.7500]

Amazing video. Keep up the good work.

[@girafficpark1113]

That is to all of the authors who want to hear an inspiring quote.

[@abhinayjaiswal2946]

Can u make a video on the economy of writing like how muc spent nd earned nd all

[@BillGriggs]

Great video. Have you ever tried Scrivener for creating your books?

[@demrovbeta2289]

Ma'am you show a great thing its helpful but still I struggle to do what should I do??

[@chaos6584]

thank God i watched this because now i know how to rewrite my deleted scenes

[@thups9552]

You're first draft is heavenly scripture compared to mine. You would have a stroke if you tried to read my first draft😂

[@antoniodossantos5960]

Hello Abbie🌎

[@FablestoneSeries]

Just a tip. DON'T put internal thoughts in italics. It is a VERY common mistake most amateur self published writers make. There are three reasons not to do that. 1. A story is itself already a thought. A story, especially one in first person POV is already a train of thought. 2. If you have entire sentences in italics it prevents you from emphasizing a word within that sentence. Essentially you can't put something in italics that is already in italics. 3. The most important reason we don't put thoughts in italics is because 60% of digital sales are audio books, and this is critical information being lost in the translation to audio book. A simple rule for writing is to write your book as if it is being read to someone.

[@Griwhoolda]

I saw that "Suddenly" is a word that needs to die. Yes, yes, yes, I agree.... and I love when I catch myself writing "suddenly." (Notice I edited my comment, ha ha ha).