What I Learned From My First Draft

As I began writing my first draft for Runaway Mortal, I was very unhappy.

Why? Because starting a new WIP meant that I had to put away my other WIP, an Adult Urban Fantasy titled Siren Song.

So, why didn’t I just keep writing what made me happy? Because I am a moron.

My goal was to complete a Young Adult manuscript by the end of 2011 and Siren Song was not Young Adult. Reluctantly, I began a new WIP, Runaway Mortal, and I wrote at a snail-like pace. I constantly complained to my fiancé about how Runaway Mortal was nowhere near as good as Siren Song and that I would never be able to come up with an idea that I liked as much.

Meanwhile, the word count of Runaway Mortal grew but it lacked that “special something” that Siren Song had. I blamed this on the story. I blamed it on the characters. I blamed it on the idea.

Honestly, I should have been blaming myself.

If I had, I would have realised earlier on that the problem was me. I was sabotaging myself. I wasn’t in love with my story. I wasn’t in love with my characters, and because of this my story was bland. I may as well not have written it, that’s how horrible it had become.

I made a split second decision to can Runaway Mortal and work on Siren Song, but something stopped me. It suddenly dawned on me that I was putting myself down. I didn’t believe that I could come up with a story concept as good as Siren Song. What was I trying to tell myself? Why did I want to be a writer if I couldn’t learn to start new projects with enthusiasm?

So, I stayed with Runaway Mortal and I really worked hard on it. I wrote more in 2 months than I had written in 7. That reality amazed me. I really had been sabotaging myself. I pushed through and finished my first draft and you know what happened after that? I could NOT stop thinking about Runaway Mortal. I started writing scenes for it, began a new first chapter and did world building. I couldn’t stay away.

I guess what I am trying to say is be happy with what you are writing. Lose yourself in your world and your characters. Don’t write something that frustrates you, write what you love.

And love it. Really, really love it.

To edit or not to edit?

While working on the Serena Merchant series I used to edit each chapter after I'd finished writing it. The good thing was that I had near-perfect chapters. The bad thing was that it took me one month to write one chapter.

Now I know you're probably thinking why it took me so long to realise that it's best to write a first draft and then revise. But I am a perfectionist. I find one little thing I want to fix and before I know it I am fixing little mistakes all over the place.

It actually took me a long time to just accept my first draft for what it was: A FIRST DRAFT. Not my final draft, not the end of the world. Needless to say, I am happily working through the Kat Lyrille series without worrying about silly mistakes.

Question: What do you prefer? Edit as you go or edit after the first draft is done?