It’s never too late or too early to start on the next draft of the novel you’re writing.
Some people believe that you must write the book all the way through to the end before you begin your second pass, but I see no reason why you should.
As someone who plots their book in detail before I even start writing, you might think that I would have no problem writing through to the end before I begin my second round. But, in fact, I’m finding myself going back earlier and earlier in the process to begin my rewrites.
I will plot the beginning of the book in detail, and possibly even up to the midpoint. I’ll make a note as to what the black moment and the HEA (happily ever after—because I write romance) will be. I’ll explore my main characters — who they are, what their goals and conflicts are, and sometimes what their wound is and their resulting belief of either the world or themselves. But it is not until I actually begin to write do I start to hear my characters’ voices.
Once I start to write the story, I can hear my characters, listen to what they say and how they say it. I can watch how they move, and what they do as they live out the scenes I’ve planned for them. And it only after I’ve gotten a better idea of my characters and how their story is progressing that I can see how the story needs to be changed.
I am at such a point right now. I’ve written 27k of what will (hopefully) be a 70k word book, so that’s what… 1/3 of the way through approximately (just doing rough math off the top of my head). I’ve stopped writing for two reasons: 1) I haven’t even paused to reread anything of what I’ve written so far, I’ve just been plowing ahead; and 2) my characters haven’t felt as alive and well-rounded as I know they need to be.
I’m writing a mystery and so I’ve gotten caught up by the plot, but my dearest protagonists need some of my attention a well. As a romance, the main point of the book are the characters and how they overcome their differences (this is an enemies to lovers plot) and fall in love. And I’ve realized that the poor souls enacting my story just don’t feel… real. They haven’t fully come alive.
So, I stop. I analyze who they are once again. I now have their voices in my head, but they need More. I need to understand what they want and what drives them. I need to know how they think. What’s important to them. And how they see the world that is unique to them.
And while I’ve stopped, I’m going to analyze the various plots within my novel, because a novel rarely has only one. I’ve got four: the heroine’s goal and growth, the hero’s goal and growth, the mystery, and the romance. Each one needs to be plotted out with all the appropriate ups and downs, high points and lows. So, I go through each scene, see which plot line it belongs in and whether it’s got all the conflict and romance it needs.
I can tell you, there are too many that are lacking!
And so, I will read through and edit. I’m adding romantic sparks, subtle hints for the mystery, and ensuring that my characters are working toward or moving away from their goals in every scene.
I’m writing the second draft of my novel, even though I’m only 1/3rd of the way through. And I can probably guarantee that I’m going to stop again at least once to re-analyze how my characters and my plots are doing before I reach the end.
It is never too late, nor too early start that second draft. In fact, the earlier you get to it, the easier it will be to get your book in good shape by the time you reach the end.
Craft: Your second draft… third? Fourth?
