The Differences Between a First Draft and Final Draft of a Manuscript
Whether you're a seasoned author or a newbie, the first draft of a manuscript is always a challenging task. The first draft is your space to put your ideas on paper and let your creativity flow. Whereas the final draft of a manuscript should be in pristine condition and ready for self-publishing or submitting to a literary agent and/or traditional publisher.
In this blog post, we'll explore the differences between a first draft and a final draft of a manuscript. We'll also provide you with some tips on how to focus on the most important aspects of each draft.
How Are First Drafts and Final Drafts of a Book Different?
The first draft of a book is typically messy, unpolished, and far from perfect. You won’t have to worry about grammar, spelling, or punctuation in this manuscript because the simple goal of a first draft is to get your thoughts down and create a framework for your story.
Your final draft, however, is the polished version of your manuscript. It's the version that you'll submit to your literary agent, publisher or will self-publish. A final manuscript draft should be free of errors, well-structured, and complete.
What Should I Focus on Most in the First Draft of My Book?
When writing the first draft, it's important to focus on your story and its characters. Create a compelling story that will keep future readers engaged.
Here are three items to focus on as you write your first draft:
Plot: Focus on a strong plot that will keep your readers interested.
Characters: Create captivating characters your readers will care about.
Setting: Build a detailed and immersive setting that will transport your readers to a different place.
How Do I Prioritize Those Focus Points for My First Draft?
To prioritize your focus points for your first draft, start with the overall big picture. The small details, self-edits, and punctuation and spelling can wait for another pass through.
Here are three tips to help you prioritize:
Create an outline: An outline can help you organize your thoughts and ideas.
Focus on the story: Don’t get bogged down with anything that doesn’t speak directly to your story or characters.
Don't worry about the small stuff: Resist the urge to self-correct your work during a writing session. You can always schedule 30 minutes to an hour a few days a week to go back and make improvements to spelling, grammatical errors, and punctuation.
What Should I Focus On Most in the Final Draft of My Book?
In the final draft, keep your focus on polishing and finessing your manuscript. At this stage, your manuscript should be free of errors and well-structured. The final draft is the best version you can make your manuscript.
Here are three things to focus on in the final draft:
Structure: Do a read-through and make sure you don’t have any plot holes or scenes that aren’t clear.
Pacing: Read through again with attention to the pacing of your story. Is it engaging? Will it keep readers interested?
Dialogue: Check that all your dialogue is natural and flows well.
Spelling and Grammar: Run a thorough spelling and grammar check through your writing program, but also be sure you manually check your manuscript yourself. Computer systems are good at catching a lot of errors, but they aren’t 100% foolproof.
How Do I Prioritize Those Focus Points in My Final Draft?
To prioritize your focus points in your final draft, start with your manuscript’s structure and pacing. Once you've made the necessary revisions, then focus on the small details like grammar and spelling.
Here are some tips to help you prioritize:
Read Aloud: Allow yourself to take the time to print off your final manuscript and read it aloud. As you read, keep a pencil nearby and make notes of any remaining errors or final revisions that should be made.
Ask for Help: As a close friend or family member to do a full read through and mark all errors or hard to read sections for you.
Make All Final Revisions: Take the time to make all remaining changes to your manuscript at this point.
Simple topic but the most important for getting you from Writer to Published Author!