Have you finished revising your first draft? Then this is your video since it’s all about how to revise a second draft.
And yes, second drafts need to be revised too. Sometimes more than first drafts, actually – which we’ll get to in a second.
If this subject matter sounds a little advanced for where you’re at in the publishing journey, you probably want to hop back to Step #3 (revising your first draft), Step #2 (actually writing a first draft) or Step #1 (the pre-writing process) of this eight-step guide.
Otherwise, let’s get right to it.
So. How to revise a second draft. Here’s a thought: Try reading it from start to finish.
If that sounds an absolute ton like Step #3, it’s because it is a ton like Step #3. With one difference.
If you’re wondering about how to revise a second draft, then you’re either dealing with a story that’s stronger than it was when you first finished it. Or you’re dealing with a story that’s, in some ways, worse off.
Sometimes, if writers find a lot to fix while revising their first drafts, they might actually end up making more of a mess out of things in some ways. That’s not entirely uncommon and nothing to be ashamed about.
If that’s the case with you, you’re not a failure. And there is hope.
Because a novel-length manuscript contains so many interlocking details, once you move one piece around, there’s a decent chance it’ll require moving something else around too. Moreover, because there are so many interlocking details, it’s difficult – no, make that impossible – to catch everything on the first go-round.
That’s why second drafts are meant to be read through in the same basic manner as first drafts. There are so many other tactics and tricks you can try once you get past this point, but why make it more complicated than it needs to be?
Sometimes, it’s the simple things that make the world go ‘round. So get back to the basics for another read-through. That’s how to revise a second draft.