I am suffering from what I am calling – the Second Draft Blues.
As I am going through a lot of emotional turmoil with this terrible condition, I thought I would list out the tell-tale signs so other writers can be on guard.
I think this affliction is worse for those of us who:
- Finished writing their first draft on a serious creative high.
- Got totally carried away with their first draft.
Here are the signs:
- After reading through their ‘rested’ first draft the writer’s happy and glowing expression changes to one of total misery.
- The writer’s huffing and puffing levels will increase.
- The writer will struggle to re-connect with their first draft and say things like “did I write this?” and “I don’t feel like I know these characters anymore!”
- The writer may call their second draft a ‘changeling’.
- When they are not staring blankly at their first draft the writer will be tapping out lengthy emails to long-suffering writer friends, with titles such as ‘Not Feeling The Writing Love’ and ‘Feeling Creatively Frustrated’.
- If you are unfortunate enough to get into a conversation with a writer experiencing Second Draft Blues you will have to listen to how they wish they had never rested their novel, the pain that they are about to face with editing and how they might not get back the literary love.
- The writer will spend a lot of time
not writing or editingreminiscing about the good old first draft days when their writer / draft relationship was fast, passionate and dreamy. - The writer’s Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest usage will increase.
- The writer will be seen sitting staring into space a lot.
- The writer may have a fixed mindset about their first draft. This means they will be reluctant to view things differently in the second draft and feel uneasy about making sweeping changes. Good writer friends will encourage the writer to take on a new mindset and be brave to revise the plot or characters.
Have a wonderful day!
OMG, this is me right now!! Number 7, 8, 9 and 10 for sure!!
I knew we were connected on a higher level – sigh!
Twinsies!
Defo!
Reblogged this on Kim's Author Support Blog.
Oh dear. I hope you get through these second draft blues and onto to the amazing high of a successfully completed book. I know you can do it.
New Roxy… Let’s go!! ☺☺☺
Simon – Roxy is telling some lies today, but she has good reason 🙂
She always has good reason – are these lies about her wobbly bits?
Nope about her life lol
I better go and see…
I wonder is this a female thing … more drafts than men? One thing I do know women pass more wind than men!.Good morning Lucy hope all well with you today!
Good morning Eric – I needed to smile and you have given me one…a smile…lol 😉. Think I need more coffee
Nope, not at all a female thing. I resonated with the description from the very first point/sign. Such is the lot of creative types…as we forever seek something with which we might fall in love.
Respect.
wow – important and precise point…
Thank you 🙂 happy Thurs
As I stop staring off into space to check my emails with my editor open on my second draft, I wonder if I have that condition. Oh, let me check Facebook and send off a tweet.
Lol – good luck out there – it’s tough..thank goodness for Twitter!
Well you caught me again. I am mindlessly blogging away. Second Draft collecting dust on my other screen.
I am in the bath lol! Whilst my second draft waits for me :-
LOL
Aw bless you Lucy! I hope to one day get to this stage!
Hey Ritu! I can’t wait 😉
😃 I’ll get there
Y’see this is why I only bother with Reality in slight doses, on the second draft I let my characters read it and tell them ‘See. I toldja that wouldn’t work! Now let me handle it!”
My sympathies for you miseries.
Thank you 😉
How did you know I’ve just started working on the second draft of Endgame??
I hope you get through it fast, but I know how it feels (same boat, lol).
Hey Galit – same boat! Yay!
lol 😀
Still reading trhough a first draft. Feeling like I’m about to get those Blues… Oh dear.
Not nice – I have been hard work this week
Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog.
Thank you Don 💐
You’re welcome.
Reblogged this on Matthews' Blog.
Thank you 🙂
So true. Been there with #3 many, many times. #8-10 too.
I am really struggling at the moment 😫
Even though it comes and goes periodically, I’m in it in now. Bah…
Lol! Am still wrestling with mine 🙂
Wishing you through it with success!!
Haha, I was just about to veer into #8 when I read this! I thought maybe making a Pinterest inspiration board featuring my characters would revive my feelings for the draft? No? XD
(I should just face that it’s all some form of procrastination, haha.)
Thx for reading 🙋🏼
I believe at pivotal points in our lives, we ourselves can be the harshest critics against our own creativity.
J.A. Egan – I agree! Thank you for taking the time to read 🙋🏼