Finishing a first draft probably feels exciting. This story that you’ve been working on is finally out of your head and on the screen in front of you. You may wonder, “What now?” Getting an editor seems like the obvious next step. But it isn’t the advised thing to do. Your first draft needs a lot of work before it can get to the editing stage. It’s your stepping stone to publishing.
What Is a First Draft?
A first draft is the first complete version of your manuscript. It’s often referred to as you telling yourself the story. The goal of a first draft is simply to get the story from your head to the page (or screen).
You discover your story while writing it, sometimes veering off your outline and making note of ideas that come to you in the moment.
Many, if not all, first drafts will include (but are not limited to):
- Plot holes
- Inconsistency
- Uneven pacing
- Unnecessary scenes
- One-note characters
- Awkward phrasing
- And so on.
That’s totally normal! These aren’t mistakes; they’re a normal part of the writing process. Your first draft is meant to be messy. Finding these issues in your first draft will make your later drafts stronger as you revise.
Editing a First Draft Is Counterproductive
There are two things you don’t want to waste when it comes to publishing your book: time and money. And sending your first draft for professional editing can almost guarantee that you’ll be wasting one of them, if not both. Here’s why:
- You need to learn how to revise your own work. You cannot expect an editor to fix every single thing. There are different types of book editing, and editors don’t usually edit outside their main focus. If you’ve hired a copyeditor, they may notice a plot hole and notate it for you. But it’s up to you (or a developmental editor) to fix it.
- Revising your own work produces several more drafts after the first one. At every stage of editing, make sure your manuscript is the most polished and prepped it can be. Your story doesn’t have to be perfect to get professional editing, but it should be clean, clear, and consistent.
- Your story may change. After reading over your first draft, you may find that something doesn’t work. Or you may have a whole new direction that you want to explore. What’s the point in paying an editor when scenes may be cut or completely changed?
- You’ll need to fix the big-picture issues before the sentence-level issues. Your first draft will most likely have big issues such as plot inconsistencies and one-dimensional characterization. I don’t advise hiring a line editor or copyeditor before fixing bigger issues yourself or going through a developmental editor first.
What Indie Authors Should Do After Finishing Their First Draft
Before looking for an editor, you’ll have to polish your first draft first.
- Let your manuscript rest before starting revisions.
- Read your story from beginning to end.
- Fix the big issues first: plot, character, pacing, and continuity problems.
- Fix the smaller issues next: clunky sentence structure, awkward phrasing, word choices, tone, grammar, spelling, etc.
- Get alpha/beta readers or critique partners if you feel like you need them.
- Make more revisions based on the feedback you’ve received.
- Once you’re happy with the current draft of your manuscript, figure out what kind of editing you need.
- Start reaching out to editors.
Your first draft won’t be your only draft. Manuscripts go through so many different variations between the first and final drafts. It’s a normal part of the writing process. An editor’s job is best done on a fully revised manuscript. Take it as far as you can, then hand it over to your editor for the rest.
If you think you’re ready to take your manuscript to the next level, send me a message for a free sample edit. I provide line editing, copyediting, and proofreading on all contemporary genres.
Let’s get your manuscript to its strongest draft!
