Making the Most of the Second Draft

by Katherine Reay, @Katherine_Reay

We often talk about the first draft — that daunting blank screen. And we talk about the final draft — getting your manuscript to shine so brightly it attracts an agent, a publisher, and, eventually, a reader. 

But what about the draft, or drafts, in between? Is there some direction or are there insights that can make moving through those drafts, those muddy middle moments, more productive? 

I offer a few suggestions: 

  1. Forget your metrics. Some of us measure our writing by word count; others by hour, or by scene, by page number, by characters or by potato chips. We have some crazy ways to track our progress in this journey and, at this point forget, I’m suggesting you forget them all — for a time. If you are trying to measure your progress, you are looking forward. While that is great when you need to get words and ideas out on those pages and build that story structure, that work is done. So, as hard as it is, take a deep breath and recognize the second draft calls for something new from you. 
  2. Take in manuscript scene by scene. Now that you’ve left your metrics behind, immerse yourself in your story. The first draft was a race. This one is a deep dive. You want readers to savor your novel and for them to do that, you need to slow down here and feel every sigh, warm sunshine ray, or chilly put-down. Go deep and bring all that sensory detail to the manuscript.

  1. Question everything! That warm ray of sunshine? Make sure that scene shouldn’t take place in a cloudy rain. That anger your protagonist feels? Be sure to draw out her fear and the longing behind her anger. Going deep means taking the time to ensure every emotion, setting, character and plot point is the best it can be and reveals character and tension on multiple levels. You’ll most likely have another draft to refine this, but the second draft is a perfect point to start questioning and inserting these deeper themes. 
  2. Refine your research. Another reason I slow down here is that, in filling in the details, I find the holes in my research — the proper tool a restoration expert needs to create the feeling of water with paint, the perfect recipe a chef needs to bring out an element of her character, the proper procedure for “adopting” an adult… Your research is most likely more targeted at this point, but it is just as vital. Part of slowing down is giving yourself “permission” to step away from your manuscript and make sure your research fills your manuscript’s needs. 
  3. Have fun! This is a wonderful part in creating a story. Enjoy it. You have done the hard work of laying it out and now you get to explore within this canvas and bring it to life. Readers will feel the joy you bring to your manuscript — so make sure you enjoy it too! 

Happy Writing!

Thank you for spending time here with me today. 

Katherine 


Of Literature and Lattes

Katherine Reay returns to the cozy and delightful town of Winsome where two people discover the grace of letting go and the joy found in unexpected change.

After fleeing her hometown three years earlier, Alyssa Harrison never planned to return. Then the Silicon Valley start-up she worked for collapsed and turned her world upside down. She is broke, under FBI investigation, and without a place to go. Having exhausted every option, she comes home to Winsome, Illinois, to regroup then move on as quickly as possible. Yet, as friends and family welcome her back, Alyssa begins to see a place for herself in this small Midwestern community.

Jeremy Mitchell moved from Seattle to Winsome to be near his daughter and to open the coffee shop he’s been dreaming of for years. Problem is, the business is bleeding money-and he’s not quite sure why. When he meets Alyssa, he senses an immediate connection, but what he needs most is someone to help him save his floundering business. After asking for her help, he wonders if something might grow between them-but forces beyond their control soon complicate their already complex lives, and the future they both hoped for is not at all what they anticipated.

With the help of Winsome’s small-town charm and quirky residents, Alyssa and Jeremy discover the beauty and romance of second chances.

Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author of several novels, including Dear Mr. Knightley, The Printed Letter Bookshop and the upcoming Of Literature and Lattes. She has enjoyed a lifelong affair with books and brings that love to her contemporary stories. Katherine’s has also written one full-length nonfiction work, Awful Beautiful Life. She holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University and currently lives outside Chicago, IL with her husband and three children. Publishing credits also include Redbook, USAToday, Christianity Today and FamilyFiction. You can meet Katherine at www.katherinereay.com or on Facebook: KatherineReayBooks, Twitter: @katherine_reay and Instagram: @katherinereay.

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