As a writer, have you ever finished your first draft, read it through, and thought, “Man, this is terrible. Is this even worth publishing?” If you relate to feeling this way, just know you’re not alone. It’s not uncommon for writers to second-guess their work, especially with a first draft. However, it’s important to know that it’s okay if your first draft isn’t a masterpiece. If your first draft isn’t the best piece of work you’ve written, don’t let that deter you from finishing it. Before you hit the delete button, it may be worth giving it another chance. Below, we’ll explore why drafts deserve a second chance.
A First Draft Is Where The Heart Of Your Story Is Established
When reading over your first draft, keep in mind that it likely won’t be perfect. That’s not necessarily the goal. There’s a reason why it’s also called a “rough draft”. The goal for a first draft is for the story to exist. This is where you’ve taken your thoughts and put them on paper. The heart of your story is written down. Now, you’ll be able to go in and add, take away, and polish aspects of your story. This is where you can reshape it to your liking.
Don’t Let Imperfections Scare You
One of the biggest reasons why writers end up scrapping their first draft is that they know it’s imperfect, and they let that stop them from continuing on. However, instead of giving up, you could let the imperfections drive creativity. Go into it knowing it’s not perfect, but this is your chance to really shape your story to take it to the level it could or should be. Don’t let the fact that you’ll need to do some rewriting intimidate you.
Take A Break Before Rereading Your First Draft
When you’ve been working on the same piece for a long time, taking a break and returning with fresh eyes and an open mind helps. Allow yourself a few days or even weeks to let your work marinate and then return with a new perspective and mindset. This could give you new clarity that you otherwise didn’t have before.
Revising a first draft isn’t only about fixing grammatical errors or punctuation. It’s about taking the story and growing it. Take this opportunity to sharpen your voice, tone, and the overall story.
Give Yourself Some Grace
It’s not uncommon for writers to read their first draft, dislike it, and put themselves down. We are our own worst critics. Your first draft doesn’t need to be award-winning yet. You’ll make it into a winner eventually. Give yourself the space, time, and grace to get your book into a place where you feel comfortable publishing it.
In Conclusion
If you’re rereading your first draft and you just aren’t impressed with it, don’t delete it. Give yourself a little break before returning to reread it, look it over with an open mind, and get started on making it what you know it could become, since drafts deserve a second chance.
When your book is complete, you need a book cover and graphics to promote your book. You need graphics that represent your book accurately and give it the attention it deserves. With Book Brush, you will be able to easily create beautiful graphics in minutes. You worked hard on your book; it’s time to finally put it out into the world, and using Book Brush will provide you with a cover and graphics that will capture people’s attention.
