There’s no way to skip this essential step in the writing process! From Mess to Masterpiece Without a first draft, there’s nothing to edit.

It is the preliminary stage in the writing process.

Writing a first draft provides you as the writer with a chance to meld your thoughts together and to further develop your ideas. Completing your entire manuscript is an essential step to achieve before you begin the editing process. It is still the first draft because you are reworking a story that you have not finished. What if you’re starting from the first page and rewriting a story that is already over halfway finished? Until that amazing, miraculous, hard-earned moment where you type the words “The End,” you have not completed your manuscript. If you have written most of your story, but never finished it, and you decide to start over, is that a first draft? To put it simply, the first draft is a pile of words thrown together. In most cases, a first draft requires further work to be publication-ready. The first draft is a completed manuscript that has NOT been edited in other words, a rough initial draft of your piece of writing. If you've been having trouble finishing your own first draft and want help and encouragement in the process, consider joining our 100 Day Book program and join thousands of writers who finally finished their dream books! Check out 100 Day Book here. It will help you understand what to focus on when you're writing-and have fun while you do it! Knowing the differences between first drafts, second drafts, and editing your book will elevate your ability to tackle the writing and editing process. What does “first draft” mean-or “second draft,” for that matter? Or you may have written the entire manuscript, but then wish to scrap it and start fresh.Īnd when considering this, you question: “Am I writing a first draft? Am I editing my novel?” When writing multiple drafts of a book, you may be halfway through your rough draft and decide to start over. Have you ever wondered which draft you are working on? Do you wonder what the difference is between your first draft, your second draft, and editing your book? Let's break down the first draft definition and the differences between drafts.

Rough draft and final draft example