“Hopes, Dreams and Reality” is finished. Or is it? Finishing novel drafts is tricky.
The first rough draft is only an outline of a story. It allows the writer to create characters, try out plotlines and subplots and follow the story to an ending. My rough drafts are often a mess and only expand on my novel idea.
Enter the First Draft
That leads to a rewritten draft. This is my first real draft. By now I know my characters fairly well. That means I know how they will react in a given situation which can totally nix a plot.
If the plot won’t work with these characters, I have two choices. I can create new characters for the plot, if I like the plot. Or I can rewrite the plot to suit the characters, if I am happy with them.
One way or the other, I am finishing novel drafts to this point. And this draft may sound really good. Maybe good enough to keep?
Probably not. And the truth is in writing a second draft. This is not a carbon copy of the first draft, although they may be very similar.
Going For That Second Draft
My method is to make a copy of the first draft. Then I retype this draft one chapter at a time.
As I retype the draft, I think about it. What’s missing? Description? Explanation? A scene?
What doesn’t work? Is there too much description? Does something not make sense?
Does the ending belong? Or is it too over the top? Is all the groundwork laid for it?
Finishing Novel Drafts
How many more drafts will I write? Any after the second one will probably be pretty close to that one. Should I stop?
No matter how many drafts a writer does, there are things to change. A sentence sounds rough. The grammar stinks. These go on and on appearing with each reading.
I am to that point with “Hopes, Dreams and Reality” now. This is a new type of novel for me so I have asked a couple of friends to look it over. Then I will read through it once again.
In the meantime, I am returning to Cardua. Then I can look at this novel with fresh eyes.
