"Edit as you go" is so convoluted and you explained it well. I think a caveat for people who can edit as they go is that just because you edited it while writing doesn't mean you have a draft ready to Query when you've finished it. Your draft will likely be more polished than someone who waited to do edits, but there are some things about a book you cannot edit until you have a complete draft to work with. Pacing and build-up especially.
I find that it also creates too much attachment to the written words because of all the time already spent revising them during the drafting phase, which makes it more difficult to axe them later on.
Slugging through my first draft of my first novel now,. 27 chapters in and I've re-written the prologue five times so far. Edit-as-you-go was going to be my bugaboo until watching this. Before now, I had anxiety about not giving the other chapters the same attention to detail as the prologue. Now I feel I've deprived myself of being able to re-address the whole book evenly on the second draft. Beginner's mistake.
One weird thing in my writing process is what I call the “concept draft.” I can never stick to one story idea, so what I do is I prepare the characters and the world and a starting plot and just write. Whenever I get a new idea, I just write it. I usually do this during a NaNoWrimo event, so I get it done quickly. I usually try to hit about 50,000 words before stopping and reading through what I have. That’s when I start outlining, although I really just create the three act structure.
I think I'm doing this, too. Just need to stick with it b/c I worry if I make a mistake on the first draft, I won't be able to fix it no matter how many drafts I make.
I actually have a very specific way of writing my book. Sometimes I think of this cool thing and go: *But, that's an ending or middle.* I write it down.
Misconception: there is a "magic formula" every successful writer abides by. After I was told this (by a creative writing teacher no less) I obsessed for months trying to figure out this "magic formula". There isn't one. But now I'm stuck retraining my brain back to normal and man did this hurt my creative flow.
Just a friendly add-on: So much writing advice implies what your teacher said, and writers either do what you did, or become disillusioned that 'all trad writing is math and the death of creativity.' In reality (unless it's like your teacher and they spell it out) it's brand new writers coming across structure for the first time and jumping to conclusions. TL;DR - There is no such thing thing as one magic formula published writers are 'in on,' but there is such a thing as structure and fundamentals and the semantics of writing advice can confuse things.
I write upstairs, music blaring that I've picked out for the book I'm writing and for 2 hours pretend the world no longer exist except the one in my head
I've never heard of a zero draft. I like the sound of it. I'm struggling with a particular point and now really want to give this idea a go. Thanks for all the interesting points.❤️
Misconception: There are no new discoveries when outlining. I wrote a 45 page outline/fast draft and I still manage to surprise myself. I also made some different choices when developing my current draft because it feels different writing the full draft.
Same. Sometimes the outline is good, but the true story surprises you. Or the characters do, and things just change course and become that much better.
It confused the heck outta me to hear that some people think outlining = no new ideas. Obviously it probably turns out that way for those individuals, that’s not what confused me, but to hear that they just assume that all outliners have a completely rigid plan with no changes or room for growth is just a bit nonsensical. Stories are always fluid, whether you’re an outliner or discovery writer ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Omg guilty as charged, i used to be AWFUL about going back and editing while i wrote PLUS having an alpha reader!! BIG OOF. theres a reason i finally, FINALLY finished a draft once i stopped doing both
I actually disagree with the idea that you can't edit your first draft as you go. You just have to be able to force yourself to MOVE ON. And that's hard, yeah, but I've found a method that works for me. After I finish a chapter, I give myself a limited amount of time (usually an hour or so) to go back and edit it as best I can. But once that time is up, I make myself move on. You know, though, I always, ALWAYS feel better about the chapter by the end of that editing hour. Or rather, I feel like I'm moving on from something that isn't complete and utter garbage. And that makes me feel better about the whole project in general. I don't know. It's just what I do.
Katherine Ann I absolutely agree with you. I do scientific writing as part of my job and that has always required me to be be precise and edit as I go. I can’t not do this in my novel writing, but you’ve got the key part - you have to force yourself to move on.
The Zero Draft is INCREDIBLY helpful, specifically for playwriting. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve needed to write a scene but was unsure how to realistically execute it onstage. That’s when placeholders come in handy to be re-visited later after more of the scenes are written and you can look back to see if you really need that difficult-to-execute scene at all.
I also hate the ‘you must have an outline’ misconception, I had a teacher that literally taught us that if you don’t have an outline it’s not worth writing, which took me years to unlearn, as outlines don’t work for me
"Fast-writing = bad writing," that one really irks me. I wrote my book Divinity in 5 or 6 days (I don't really remember because it was all a manic blur lol) and right now I'm writing a book I've been working on for a month or so and am still stuck on. A draft is a draft; as long as the book is done you have something to work with and something to edit.
I cannot convince myself not to edit as I go. 2 hours later and I see a scene doesn’t belong where i put it, and I notice something like a characters age doesn’t work because they’re parents would only be kids or something else, I feel if I continue the draft eventually I’ll slip up and write something important that took a long time to get right only to notice it was written on the basis of my character quite literally being written in two places at once or something else that causes me to have to take my darlings out back and get the shotgun... **cries in novice**
I keep giving up on the second act of my books and it's just frustrating. I don't know how many unfinished projects I have. I love your videos because they motivate me to keep trying 💜
Edit as you go on my first book ended in a dozen versions of the first 20 pages. I finally just burned them all. That has left me with an odd little mental scar. Until now, I haven't gone back to even look at my creations because I was afraid that I would get bogged down like the first time. [Deep Breath] This was helpful.
Must outline the book: Blasphemy! I need simply a bunch of ideas in a row. First drafts are not first. I do this without realizing it. I write chunks, then go back and read it again and edit shallowly as I go. Minor spelling and grammar stuff.
I needed that! I am a complete amateur. I start my novel and when I have about 3000 words I start editing. No more! I vow to press on! Hope you're coping without the coffee shop boosts you need during this virus scare. Thanks for the videos!
Best way to keep yourself from editing is writing longhand on paper. It forces you to keep going forward so that any editing, beyond notes in the margins, can only happen during the rewriting of it while you get it on computer. This way also, if your computer dies, the power goes out (insert any situation that will have you losing your draft on computer) you still have the hard copy. Plus, power outages don’t matter when writing on paper so long as you have daylight or a flashlight. (Speaks from experience)
Completely agree with the not depending on the validation of others to motivate you to write. Having a writing group to produce work for each week IS a great motivator, but having lost more than one writing support group, I found it was like having the rug pulled out from underneath me and is probably more connected to my writers block than I like to admit. I'm focusing on writing without showing anyone at the moment. It's a learning curve.
The zero draft is extracting raw ore from the very earth. Muddy, crude, imprecise, graceless. The first draft is forging that dirt-caked lump of raw metal into a clean & solid ingot. The second draft is actually working that pure metal into something.
Fast drafting pantser. Here. It works for me. Just finished writing editing and sending my second novel for the year to my beta readers. My record is five full length fantasy novels written, edited, and approved by test readers and ready for submission. This year my goal is 6. I find using the time while I am waiting on a response from a submission to work on another book is not only a better use of my time but it distracts me from the whole wait and worry thing. Love the videos. I learn a lot from them.
I am following your advice and leaving my finished first draft in the drawer for a while, and using ALL OF MY TIME binge watching all the videos on your channel I haven’t seen yet 😬 so this is perfect!
I could not agree more with #8. No two projects are the same. My two MG projects were similar and drafted the same--nice, easy, and smooth sailing. My current adult project will be the death of me. In general, I really dislike the focus on drafting since final readers NEVER see drafts. There are so many people who swear by the "one draft rule" and love to quote famous authors who may get 100 pages in, discover a plot error, and start over but call it a "new book" rather than a second draft. Nice list and keep up the great work!
I'm in the process of writing my first complete novel, and I'm still figuring out what works for me. After completing a chapter, I desperately want to edit it. I've given myself the rule of two edits. The first edit is a grammar check, and the second is a continuity check. It gives me the satisfaction of making small tweaks without allowing me to obsess over the prose.
Interesting! Edit as I go really works for me. It gets me into the 'mood' in a way, into the headspace of my own writing and the character's voices to re-read what I have so far before my next session. If it's long, it'll just be the last few pages, not from the start.
I'm so glad you shared the bit about not editing as you go. I've always tried to do that because I felt like the first draft (storywise) needed to be perfect before I edited it. That editing was just for grammar mistakes (my public school literary education might have been subpar) I really just realized how backwards that was the other day and I wish I had seen this video much sooner, but maybe I'll revisit some abandoned word documents now that I do know 😅
3:31 - I've heard many writers mention, they like to you their, rough, first draft as an outline'*. Interesting approach. '* - or they created an outline after the first draft is done
The "Zero Draft" is akin to the sketching process that artists go through. It's all about being loose, blocking in the big shapes and forms, establishing the composition, and not committing too much too early on. Many artists even like to work with small 1-inch thumbnails because there's very little commitment involved in this preliminary stage. I've used the zero draft method myself to get through writer's block and have written a handful of short stories because of it. They aren't masterpieces, but writing has a lot to do with building mileage. It doesn't have to be good to be enjoyable. :)
Number six has definitely created roadblocks for a friend of mine and I. However, I have to keep reminding myself to turn off my editor brain, make a note, then circle back later. The zero draft method is helpful here. :-)
I've draft my two last projects by writing the middle first and then back and forth with the beginning and then the end. I found it very effective for me.
In defence of editing as you go, there are as you say many different ways to do that. Some good, some really bad, but I think those who say we do this are the ones it's working for. I'm halfway through my second fantasy book now, and this is how I work: I'm a slow writer and most my chapters are between 4300- 5500 words. When I finish writing a scene I do a quick look over and polish what I've written then move on. When I finish a chapter I let it sit for 2-5 days as I work on the next, then I go back and edit the previous chapter. Check for weak writing, under/over writing and add details to setting descritions and fix stiff dialogue. What does this mean in the end? That I get a much cleaner and stronger draft since I look out for for errors both on sentance level and developmental level as I write which saves me several rounds of edits 😊. For me this is relaxing because when I go back and edit I can often figure out stuff I want to add to what comes next that wasn't in my outline.
I do this thing where I edit every 20,000- 30,000 words, (basically read over, correct major errors, and make any big changes) so around one third of my book. This makes editing manageable and keeps me writing. I find if I have a strong first third then that lends to a strong rest of my novel. Same with the middle. If I tackle it properly, I have a satisfying conclusion.
I kind of edit as I go but mostly to go back and add things or tweak things to get rid of plot holes and inconsistencies. I do line edit stuff at the end because that would slow me down way too much if I did it as I was drafting.
I think I've only had a zero draft, or something resembling it anyway, once. But that was because I had a story that was insanely complex that I'd been thinking of for nearly 15 years and I feared if I didn't get SOMETHING down I'd forget the whole thing
I'm for sure a fast-draft, nonlinear, zero drafter with very little outline to go on. I call it a zero draft because it's just a bunch of random scenes with the same characters. It might have a beginning and middle but rarely and real end. I only outline after writing 40k - 50k.
I used my "vomit draft" in place of an outline. What a mess! But in it was the framework of a story I didn't know was there. Then I was able to write the rough draft. Still a LONG way to go, but I'm in the rewriting phase.
My internet is being awful and I had to watch lime seven ads. Worth it. I combine like 3 plotting method: 27 chapter for solid structure, plot embryo for rounded and balanced characters. Usually the third changes like now I'm writing based on different crow/magpie rhymes bc it fits my book. Another is based on floriagraphy and Celtic calendars. But I still discover most of the book myself? Also, linear drafting? What's that? I can't not jump around in a book. I get stuck and then don't write for ages... Which leas to me losing my thread.
not editing as you go is such an important thing to know (especially for new writers) but I have to say, as a really slow writer, it's also pretty frustrating XD But rather than editing, I just keep notes of things I might change or things that aren't working, and fix them AFTER the draft is complete. It is so much more effective, and doesn't stall the flow of the writing
This is unrelated but I like the font you use for your thumbnails! (also thanks for your advice, I'm almost close to the end of my first draft of my first book, and this helped!)
The irony is as I become a better writer through practice, I get less attached to any single phrase or word because I know I can always come up with something better, making it easier to edit as I go. Incidentally, the more I practice, the better I also become at editing.
Thank you for these videos. You always hit the nail on the head and ALWAYS give me the type of advice I am searching for in the moment. When you talked about waiting for feedback, that hit me hard. I have a friend who reads each chapter as I write it and she has gotten busy and hasn't provided feedback in about two months and I was wavering. I am someone who needs validation. I'm small and weak and I like compliments, but in the last two weeks, I have pushed through. I don't have anyone in the writing community, so friends who write, no one else on the same "writing" grand as I am. I am writing for myself ultimately, so I need to be the one I am writing for. For "editing as you go": I will write a draft in one or two stretches. I will leave it and then read it once over for grammar/silly mistakes and tidy it up that way, but then I will leave it. I refuse to touch it more than twice: once - writing it, twice - grammar.
My struggle is sticking to a story plan, because I keep getting ideas of how the story could be different, and then when I follow that lead, I think it's my inner perfectionism trying to chase the "perfect" version of the story but never settling. Part of me wants to write multiple versions of the same book and publish all of them.
Maybe your style is to write “choose your own adventure” type books? The world needs more of those, and maybe you could make a new genre. Not just CYOA single books, but full novels with the same characters but different plots. Alternate universe/branching paths of the choices made so that you can choose your end outcome of what you want to read. I think there could be a market for it, because people like games and such where a choice matters. Why not books?
I do "edit as you go", but i have more than 16 years writing and a work flow defined. The hole here, where newbies fall, aside from looking for the perfect draft, is that they can't set ideas and always are changing details, plot, characters, events with more "exciting, amazing ideas" that may change the whole world in the story or the whole story. That's the biggest issue I saw. If i left a draft for too many days (because life gets in the way) i read all what i need to continue (could be the previous scene or the whole draft) and edit and tweak things that i notice aren't complete, or sound weird, or are not necesary. Like "do it in less than a minute or fail". The idea is keeping the reading phasing to continue what doesn't exist yet, not getting stuck in what i already have. (sorry if this has no sense, english is not my native language)
Thank you, Alexa. I really, really appreciate you sharing your experience and wisdom! Keep it up, I am benefitting greatly for this wealth of information!
Hey, Alexa- I am just gonna ramble a little: I would be *screwed* if I was required to write in order; I do try to *plot* in order- I have a skeleton-plot, that follows on from the concept, which is kind of my ‘zero draft’, but I am *not* a fast writer- & I do suffer a bit from editing as I go. I could not really define myself as adhering to any particular ‘style’- I am trying to push myself toward working a bit more on my processes, though- & try to move past the research I do, & get into things like dialogue, & integrating the research into the story. Here endeth the rant- love your work!
Something I've learned with recent projects is that I mostly need an outline. I might and probably will change a lot of things as I write, but something that has happened far too many times is that I outline the story about halfway through, think "oh I'll figure it out when I get there" and then I get there and get hit by the most brutal form of writer's block ever and have no idea what to do with the story. My outlines aren't the most detailed and I mostly need a lot of time to finish them, but it's really nice to have them there to know how to structure my story.
I agree, each writer needs to find what works for him or her. For my current series (now with 24 books), each is typically 40 chapters long, about 2,000 words per chapter. I’m more a planster, where I start with a VERY loose outline, typically broken into four 10-chapter chunks, where I have a goal for each chunk. My ideal writing schedule, I write one chapter a day, the next day I rewrite the chapter from the previous day, and then write the next chapter-and so on. At the end of 40 days I have my first draft complete. Then on to re-writes! Yes, find what works for you.
I am in the middle of drafting a little story and have been struggling because I should jump around more. I’m usually a linear writer, but I don’t like the section I’m in right now. I wrote the beginning and have planned out the end of the 2nd and the 3rd act completely in my head. I’ve been trying to get up the courage to skip the middle and go back later, but it’s hard to skip something.
Thank you for your videos. I was editing as I go...... Now I'm trying to just get the draft done. I don't try to outline anymore either, bc it just hurts trying to find out all the scenes. I get ideas for the plot while I write scenes, just because I have no idea what will happen before I write the scene.
You know what...i should probably try jumping around. Im stuck at a certain point but i know what i want for later on. Perhaps if i jot down whatever else i can and come back later to fill it in
2:25 I still think it's necesary for pantsers The pro of strong planners is that they know what happens in almost every scene, so they can jump from parts to parts without disrupting the overall logic of the story/characters more easily Pantsers writing scenes out of order might become a bit chaotic since the set-ups, character developement, important details and settings might change so much during the writing process and become very frustrating and hard to unfold and lay it down correctly for the writer
I'm currently writing my first book and engaged in number 7. Every two weeks I send a chapter to a coworker that has been alpha reading for me. I never stop and wait for feedback though, just keep on trucking! It is part of my motivation to keep going, but you make a fair point that I should not depend on it to push through writing my first book. I enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing!
I love all the advise you give and that you are still building content during this crazy time! I have a trilogy in the works, first one is done about 10,000 in book 2, but I'm finding I'm gonna need a bit of an outline to keep track! I'm normally a pantser as well. Thanks again for sharing all your knowledge!
I did minimal outlining about 350 words of bullet point scenes that need to take place to get from start to finish and that's worked great for me. At the time though I didnt know how extensive some outlines could be. I guess I'm not as much of a plotter as I thought since those 350 words was all I really needed.
Just develop the mindset that you can fix it later! We all go back to do edits on the whole book eventually, and that's when you can dig into every little thing.
I edit as I go (cleaning up as I finish scenes), and tweak story elements as necessary (already written scenes as well as later scenes in outline). Just my process.
I'm an outliner or novels because I am an overwriter. I tried to pants or just do the bare minimum of outlining and I have 43k of setup and knowing most of it's going to be cut. But it's different for screenplays. I tried outlining a screenplay once and it didn't go very well I didn't follow it at all. It's sometimes funny how that works. I'm world-building a New Adult Ailen in plain sight series and I want to see how different it is because I have to set up the world and circumstances and stay focused on the first book and not what I want to do in the third book- with major another planet type storyline goes on.
I think I'm probably somewhat of a zero-drafter. I have terrible problems with underwriting and Shiny New Idea Syndrome, so I think the only way I'll actually finish my first novel will be to just get it down really quick in a zero draft. (And Camp Nano's nearly here!) I've already got a writing routine going that's working pretty well, so hopefully things go well.
I'm actually thinking about experimenting with revising as I go in my next draft, because I have a whole STACK of first drafts that need editing and are overwhelming in their first-draftiness. My hope is that if I end up with a more coherent first draft, the editing (which I hate) won't be so horrible. But like you said, I'm a more experienced writer; I've had the experience of reaching "the end" and I know I can push through the middle. I'm trying to iterate my process, rather than making my first attempt at writing a book.
After my second draft, I just get kinda lost. I know several main things I need to work on, but after that I just go blank on what needs to be fixed or improved. My final draft is always prose, where I go from beginning to end, line-by-line. It's a nightmare.
I find that the writers I talk to often fall into the "edit as you draft" pit of story death. No matter how much I point out the fallacy of that, they are so compelled to edit anyway.
Huh. I didn’t know what I do is called writing a zero draft. I sometimes write the whole book in a yellow pad because I write faster than I type, and that’s useful as I’m pantsing through the story because I’m thinking too fast to type along with my thoughts. I type it out nice and slow after. So now I know that’s a zero draft. Cool 🙃
Paused the video at the outlining part. What does it mean when you have a "sort of idea", start drafting, and outline as you draft?? A personal example of this is like my MC Cameron is reaching the plot twist but I think of something mid draft for the end or a few chapters in the future and write it down as the "outline" Been doing it for a while now, taped all my "outline pages" on the wall (I have 23 1/2 of my "outline". [And counting] taped on my wall as of right now)
Hello Alexa. I’m an aspiring writer. Though I am quite young and I love ur vids. And I just wanted to ask what you think of the very first paragraph of a fantasy book I’m working on. Here it is Edward swung his knife upward and blocked the raging Mardurs attack. In response! The disgusting Bat-Like creature screeched loudly and tackled Edward to the ground. The Mardur, a monster with long bat like ears. Black leathery skin. Giant bat like wings and long webbed feet slashed at Edwards face. Giving him long cuts all over his nose and cheek. Remember this is just the first paragraph from. Waddya know the third draft of this book idea I’m quite confident in. I’m just working on honing my skills and wondered what you think so far. Thank you.
I have a bad habit of coming up with great ideas and concepts halfway through writing the draft so I annoy the hell out of myself waiting to finish the first draft so I can factor them in.
Is anyone Team Inconsistent? I go between being a linear plotter and being a back and forth pantser. It really depends on the book, how I feel and if I have any idea to go along with.
Definitely me. Sometimes I have to outline, others I just go where my characters take me. Though, technically my outlines are seat of the pants as well so....does that mean I’m a permanent pantser? Well, my stories get written. I enjoy them to no end. I guess it doesn’t matter then, eh?
hey Alexa, good to see you are staying well in this time. My question to you is from a newb position.... What is your advice on setting manuscript format that is sometimes part of self drafting? Don't some places have differing format expectations?
I feel like those first two are calling me out. I had a book that I was struggling with writing for four years (all through high school). This past November I sat down and said "screw it" and used the book idea for NaNoWriMo. It was the kick in the butt that I needed, but I have to rewrite it before sending it to an editor because the book makes a weird jump at the climax 😂😂
I think the outlining part, while true, is a bit misleading. You know your relationship with outlines bc you are a seasoned author that tried a lot of thing. I see A LOT of young authors pantsing because outlining is not fun and "spoils the story" but then they never finish the story because they wrote themselves into a corner. While many of those young authors who stick around later come to the idea that some type of outline is ok or even necessary. My point is, you can't cut corners in this craft. Easier doesn't always mean better and vice versa.
I always assumed I edit as I go. Guess not, because I made notes in the margins for parts I forgot to write, or parts I needed to remember to make better. But that was only during a quick scan of the last three or so pages to be sure I could get back in the zone. Now, question: isn’t a zero draft kinda like an outline? Because I attempted outlining for my latest series (and the end of my first series so that o tied up all the loose ends) and I noticed that I got around 40 or so pages for a 400 pg book. So wouldn’t that draft be like a zero draft? Because when writing it I do a quick idea of what I want the chapter to do, write down any dialogue that I deffo want to keep, or the scenes I want to happen. And I do this chapter by chapter, trying to keep at least 2-3 chapters ahead of my actual story draft. (Sometimes even writing most if not the entire outline before writing)
Fun fact: Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone With the Wind backwards. The last chapter was the first thing she wrote, and she kept writing because she wanted to know how the characters got to where they were with each chapter she wrote.
Loved this video!! Just a quick question, what's the difference between an Alpa Reader, Beta Reader an CP? I have a slight idea but I was hoping on more insight
I'm not Alexa, but I can answer this one! An alpha reader usually reads while you are still in the process of writing, so maybe you send each chapter as you finish it. A lot of people do this for cheerleading purposes--they want someone to compliment the story, which helps keep them motivated to continue writing. (But as Alexa said, this can backfire.) A CP--critique partner--is someone who reads your book after you've finished it specifically to give craft feedback, especially on big picture things like character development, plot, etc., in order to help guide you through revisions. This is also usually a two-way relationship, so you do the same for their books. Finally, beta readers are ideally people from your target audience or people who read a lot in the genre you're writing. They approach the book as a reader would, so they may not be able to give craft advice, but they can flag things that other readers might notice once your book is out in the world, so you can revise to make it more appealing to readers in your genre. I hope that makes sense!
I use Wattpad for my “alpha readers”. As I get feedback, I note down plot holes, gratuitous scenes and such and use the enthusiasm of my alphas to keep writing and molding the draft. Granted, by then I usually have what you’ve called a “zero draft” that I’m transforming into the more detailed first draft on Wattpad.
"Edit as you go" is so convoluted and you explained it well. I think a caveat for people who can edit as they go is that just because you edited it while writing doesn't mean you have a draft ready to Query when you've finished it. Your draft will likely be more polished than someone who waited to do edits, but there are some things about a book you cannot edit until you have a complete draft to work with. Pacing and build-up especially.
I find that it also creates too much attachment to the written words because of all the time already spent revising them during the drafting phase, which makes it more difficult to axe them later on.
Slugging through my first draft of my first novel now,. 27 chapters in and I've re-written the prologue five times so far. Edit-as-you-go was going to be my bugaboo until watching this. Before now, I had anxiety about not giving the other chapters the same attention to detail as the prologue. Now I feel I've deprived myself of being able to re-address the whole book evenly on the second draft. Beginner's mistake.
@@angelxxsin hello
Bye
Hearing the term "Zero Draft" changed my writing life. I learned it visiting your channel. Thank you.
One weird thing in my writing process is what I call the “concept draft.” I can never stick to one story idea, so what I do is I prepare the characters and the world and a starting plot and just write. Whenever I get a new idea, I just write it. I usually do this during a NaNoWrimo event, so I get it done quickly. I usually try to hit about 50,000 words before stopping and reading through what I have. That’s when I start outlining, although I really just create the three act structure.
Oh my gosh, I'm finishing my first draft of my first book now and I do the same thing.
Concept writing is great! I'm similar.
Same. I sit there going: *That's dumb* or *That sounds to much like this book* it's like self-doubt to the tenth power.
I think I'm doing this, too. Just need to stick with it b/c I worry if I make a mistake on the first draft, I won't be able to fix it no matter how many drafts I make.
Same, makes it seem more organic
“There are writers who start the ending of their book.”
*Happy Brandon Sanderson noises*
I actually have a very specific way of writing my book. Sometimes I think of this cool thing and go: *But, that's an ending or middle.* I write it down.
Misconception: there is a "magic formula" every successful writer abides by. After I was told this (by a creative writing teacher no less) I obsessed for months trying to figure out this "magic formula". There isn't one. But now I'm stuck retraining my brain back to normal and man did this hurt my creative flow.
Just a friendly add-on: So much writing advice implies what your teacher said, and writers either do what you did, or become disillusioned that 'all trad writing is math and the death of creativity.'
In reality (unless it's like your teacher and they spell it out) it's brand new writers coming across structure for the first time and jumping to conclusions.
TL;DR - There is no such thing thing as one magic formula published writers are 'in on,' but there is such a thing as structure and fundamentals and the semantics of writing advice can confuse things.
I write upstairs, music blaring that I've picked out for the book I'm writing and for 2 hours pretend the world no longer exist except the one in my head
Invisible Ashes that’s how it’s done
I've never heard of a zero draft. I like the sound of it. I'm struggling with a particular point and now really want to give this idea a go. Thanks for all the interesting points.❤️
Misconception: There are no new discoveries when outlining. I wrote a 45 page outline/fast draft and I still manage to surprise myself. I also made some different choices when developing my current draft because it feels different writing the full draft.
Same. Sometimes the outline is good, but the true story surprises you. Or the characters do, and things just change course and become that much better.
It confused the heck outta me to hear that some people think outlining = no new ideas. Obviously it probably turns out that way for those individuals, that’s not what confused me, but to hear that they just assume that all outliners have a completely rigid plan with no changes or room for growth is just a bit nonsensical. Stories are always fluid, whether you’re an outliner or discovery writer ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Omg guilty as charged, i used to be AWFUL about going back and editing while i wrote PLUS having an alpha reader!! BIG OOF. theres a reason i finally, FINALLY finished a draft once i stopped doing both
I actually disagree with the idea that you can't edit your first draft as you go. You just have to be able to force yourself to MOVE ON. And that's hard, yeah, but I've found a method that works for me. After I finish a chapter, I give myself a limited amount of time (usually an hour or so) to go back and edit it as best I can. But once that time is up, I make myself move on. You know, though, I always, ALWAYS feel better about the chapter by the end of that editing hour. Or rather, I feel like I'm moving on from something that isn't complete and utter garbage. And that makes me feel better about the whole project in general. I don't know. It's just what I do.
Katherine Ann I absolutely agree with you. I do scientific writing as part of my job and that has always required me to be be precise and edit as I go. I can’t not do this in my novel writing, but you’ve got the key part - you have to force yourself to move on.
The Zero Draft is INCREDIBLY helpful, specifically for playwriting. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve needed to write a scene but was unsure how to realistically execute it onstage. That’s when placeholders come in handy to be re-visited later after more of the scenes are written and you can look back to see if you really need that difficult-to-execute scene at all.
I also hate the ‘you must have an outline’ misconception, I had a teacher that literally taught us that if you don’t have an outline it’s not worth writing, which took me years to unlearn, as outlines don’t work for me
Never realized I was a zero drafter.
"Fast-writing = bad writing," that one really irks me. I wrote my book Divinity in 5 or 6 days (I don't really remember because it was all a manic blur lol) and right now I'm writing a book I've been working on for a month or so and am still stuck on. A draft is a draft; as long as the book is done you have something to work with and something to edit.
I cannot convince myself not to edit as I go. 2 hours later and I see a scene doesn’t belong where i put it, and I notice something like a characters age doesn’t work because they’re parents would only be kids or something else, I feel if I continue the draft eventually I’ll slip up and write something important that took a long time to get right only to notice it was written on the basis of my character quite literally being written in two places at once or something else that causes me to have to take my darlings out back and get the shotgun...
**cries in novice**
I keep giving up on the second act of my books and it's just frustrating. I don't know how many unfinished projects I have. I love your videos because they motivate me to keep trying 💜
I'm pretty sure Alexa has a video for that! ;)
Had to rewind and listen again. Got distracted by how amazing your makeup is today!
"Team Linear!" HA Me, too, then I took the book apart and braided my narrative.
Edit as you go on my first book ended in a dozen versions of the first 20 pages. I finally just burned them all. That has left me with an odd little mental scar. Until now, I haven't gone back to even look at my creations because I was afraid that I would get bogged down like the first time. [Deep Breath] This was helpful.
I’m a jump around writer. I try and write linearly, but quite often I write the key big scenes and then write around that.
Must outline the book: Blasphemy! I need simply a bunch of ideas in a row.
First drafts are not first. I do this without realizing it.
I write chunks, then go back and read it again and edit shallowly as I go. Minor spelling and grammar stuff.
I've never heard of a zero draft called a dirty draft. I like it :) I draft really fast and, in my mind, i think of it as a really long outline.
I needed that! I am a complete amateur. I start my novel and when I have about 3000 words I start editing. No more! I vow to press on! Hope you're coping without the coffee shop boosts you need during this virus scare. Thanks for the videos!
Best way to keep yourself from editing is writing longhand on paper. It forces you to keep going forward so that any editing, beyond notes in the margins, can only happen during the rewriting of it while you get it on computer.
This way also, if your computer dies, the power goes out (insert any situation that will have you losing your draft on computer) you still have the hard copy.
Plus, power outages don’t matter when writing on paper so long as you have daylight or a flashlight. (Speaks from experience)
Thanks for the advice, Nallah. I'll try it!
Completely agree with the not depending on the validation of others to motivate you to write. Having a writing group to produce work for each week IS a great motivator, but having lost more than one writing support group, I found it was like having the rug pulled out from underneath me and is probably more connected to my writers block than I like to admit. I'm focusing on writing without showing anyone at the moment. It's a learning curve.
The zero draft is extracting raw ore from the very earth. Muddy, crude, imprecise, graceless.
The first draft is forging that dirt-caked lump of raw metal into a clean & solid ingot.
The second draft is actually working that pure metal into something.
❣️love how you put that. It fits perfectly.
@@kanashiiookami6537 Thank you kindly. ;)
Fast drafting pantser. Here. It works for me. Just finished writing editing and sending my second novel for the year to my beta readers. My record is five full length fantasy novels written, edited, and approved by test readers and ready for submission. This year my goal is 6.
I find using the time while I am waiting on a response from a submission to work on another book is not only a better use of my time but it distracts me from the whole wait and worry thing. Love the videos. I learn a lot from them.
I am following your advice and leaving my finished first draft in the drawer for a while, and using ALL OF MY TIME binge watching all the videos on your channel I haven’t seen yet 😬 so this is perfect!
I could not agree more with #8. No two projects are the same. My two MG projects were similar and drafted the same--nice, easy, and smooth sailing. My current adult project will be the death of me. In general, I really dislike the focus on drafting since final readers NEVER see drafts. There are so many people who swear by the "one draft rule" and love to quote famous authors who may get 100 pages in, discover a plot error, and start over but call it a "new book" rather than a second draft. Nice list and keep up the great work!
I'm in the process of writing my first complete novel, and I'm still figuring out what works for me. After completing a chapter, I desperately want to edit it. I've given myself the rule of two edits. The first edit is a grammar check, and the second is a continuity check. It gives me the satisfaction of making small tweaks without allowing me to obsess over the prose.
You’re going about it the right way. 👍🏽
And don’t worry, you will have insane amounts of fun editing it after you write the last word.
Interesting! Edit as I go really works for me. It gets me into the 'mood' in a way, into the headspace of my own writing and the character's voices to re-read what I have so far before my next session. If it's long, it'll just be the last few pages, not from the start.
I'm so glad you shared the bit about not editing as you go. I've always tried to do that because I felt like the first draft (storywise) needed to be perfect before I edited it. That editing was just for grammar mistakes (my public school literary education might have been subpar) I really just realized how backwards that was the other day and I wish I had seen this video much sooner, but maybe I'll revisit some abandoned word documents now that I do know 😅
3:31 - I've heard many writers mention, they like to you their, rough, first draft as an outline'*. Interesting approach.
'* - or they created an outline after the first draft is done
The "Zero Draft" is akin to the sketching process that artists go through. It's all about being loose, blocking in the big shapes and forms, establishing the composition, and not committing too much too early on. Many artists even like to work with small 1-inch thumbnails because there's very little commitment involved in this preliminary stage.
I've used the zero draft method myself to get through writer's block and have written a handful of short stories because of it. They aren't masterpieces, but writing has a lot to do with building mileage. It doesn't have to be good to be enjoyable. :)
Perfect timing, I need help with drafting. xD Thanks as always Alexa!
I didn’t have a name for it, but now I do. “Zero draft.” THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Number six has definitely created roadblocks for a friend of mine and I. However, I have to keep reminding myself to turn off my editor brain, make a note, then circle back later. The zero draft method is helpful here. :-)
I've draft my two last projects by writing the middle first and then back and forth with the beginning and then the end. I found it very effective for me.
In defence of editing as you go, there are as you say many different ways to do that. Some good, some really bad, but I think those who say we do this are the ones it's working for.
I'm halfway through my second fantasy book now, and this is how I work:
I'm a slow writer and most my chapters are between 4300- 5500 words. When I finish writing a scene I do a quick look over and polish what I've written then move on. When I finish a chapter I let it sit for 2-5 days as I work on the next, then I go back and edit the previous chapter. Check for weak writing, under/over writing and add details to setting descritions and fix stiff dialogue.
What does this mean in the end?
That I get a much cleaner and stronger draft since I look out for for errors both on sentance level and developmental level as I write which saves me several rounds of edits 😊.
For me this is relaxing because when I go back and edit I can often figure out stuff I want to add to what comes next that wasn't in my outline.
I do this thing where I edit every 20,000- 30,000 words, (basically read over, correct major errors, and make any big changes) so around one third of my book. This makes editing manageable and keeps me writing. I find if I have a strong first third then that lends to a strong rest of my novel. Same with the middle. If I tackle it properly, I have a satisfying conclusion.
I kind of edit as I go but mostly to go back and add things or tweak things to get rid of plot holes and inconsistencies. I do line edit stuff at the end because that would slow me down way too much if I did it as I was drafting.
I think I've only had a zero draft, or something resembling it anyway, once. But that was because I had a story that was insanely complex that I'd been thinking of for nearly 15 years and I feared if I didn't get SOMETHING down I'd forget the whole thing
I'm for sure a fast-draft, nonlinear, zero drafter with very little outline to go on. I call it a zero draft because it's just a bunch of random scenes with the same characters. It might have a beginning and middle but rarely and real end. I only outline after writing 40k - 50k.
I used my "vomit draft" in place of an outline. What a mess! But in it was the framework of a story I didn't know was there. Then I was able to write the rough draft. Still a LONG way to go, but I'm in the rewriting phase.
My internet is being awful and I had to watch lime seven ads. Worth it.
I combine like 3 plotting method: 27 chapter for solid structure, plot embryo for rounded and balanced characters. Usually the third changes like now I'm writing based on different crow/magpie rhymes bc it fits my book. Another is based on floriagraphy and Celtic calendars.
But I still discover most of the book myself? Also, linear drafting? What's that? I can't not jump around in a book. I get stuck and then don't write for ages... Which leas to me losing my thread.
not editing as you go is such an important thing to know (especially for new writers) but I have to say, as a really slow writer, it's also pretty frustrating XD
But rather than editing, I just keep notes of things I might change or things that aren't working, and fix them AFTER the draft is complete. It is so much more effective, and doesn't stall the flow of the writing
Wow I haven't heard of a zero draft. Thanks for bringing it to my notice
This is unrelated but I like the font you use for your thumbnails! (also thanks for your advice, I'm almost close to the end of my first draft of my first book, and this helped!)
The irony is as I become a better writer through practice, I get less attached to any single phrase or word because I know I can always come up with something better, making it easier to edit as I go. Incidentally, the more I practice, the better I also become at editing.
Thank you for these videos. You always hit the nail on the head and ALWAYS give me the type of advice I am searching for in the moment.
When you talked about waiting for feedback, that hit me hard. I have a friend who reads each chapter as I write it and she has gotten busy and hasn't provided feedback in about two months and I was wavering. I am someone who needs validation. I'm small and weak and I like compliments, but in the last two weeks, I have pushed through. I don't have anyone in the writing community, so friends who write, no one else on the same "writing" grand as I am. I am writing for myself ultimately, so I need to be the one I am writing for.
For "editing as you go": I will write a draft in one or two stretches. I will leave it and then read it once over for grammar/silly mistakes and tidy it up that way, but then I will leave it. I refuse to touch it more than twice: once - writing it, twice - grammar.
My struggle is sticking to a story plan, because I keep getting ideas of how the story could be different, and then when I follow that lead, I think it's my inner perfectionism trying to chase the "perfect" version of the story but never settling. Part of me wants to write multiple versions of the same book and publish all of them.
Maybe your style is to write “choose your own adventure” type books? The world needs more of those, and maybe you could make a new genre. Not just CYOA single books, but full novels with the same characters but different plots. Alternate universe/branching paths of the choices made so that you can choose your end outcome of what you want to read.
I think there could be a market for it, because people like games and such where a choice matters. Why not books?
@@kanashiiookami6537 This is a really cool thought! Thanks. I'll definitely think about it. Or hey, maybe it will become a video game someday!
Zero draft! That's me. And I did like 5 revisions of my outline. Big fan of outlines
Omg, the part about not depending on an reader for validation was exactly what I needed to hear.
I do "edit as you go", but i have more than 16 years writing and a work flow defined. The hole here, where newbies fall, aside from looking for the perfect draft, is that they can't set ideas and always are changing details, plot, characters, events with more "exciting, amazing ideas" that may change the whole world in the story or the whole story. That's the biggest issue I saw.
If i left a draft for too many days (because life gets in the way) i read all what i need to continue (could be the previous scene or the whole draft) and edit and tweak things that i notice aren't complete, or sound weird, or are not necesary. Like "do it in less than a minute or fail". The idea is keeping the reading phasing to continue what doesn't exist yet, not getting stuck in what i already have. (sorry if this has no sense, english is not my native language)
Thank you, Alexa. I really, really appreciate you sharing your experience and wisdom! Keep it up, I am benefitting greatly for this wealth of information!
Hey, Alexa- I am just gonna ramble a little: I would be *screwed* if I was required to write in order; I do try to *plot* in order- I have a skeleton-plot, that follows on from the concept, which is kind of my ‘zero draft’, but I am *not* a fast writer- & I do suffer a bit from editing as I go.
I could not really define myself as adhering to any particular ‘style’- I am trying to push myself toward working a bit more on my processes, though- & try to move past the research I do, & get into things like dialogue, & integrating the research into the story.
Here endeth the rant- love your work!
Something I've learned with recent projects is that I mostly need an outline. I might and probably will change a lot of things as I write, but something that has happened far too many times is that I outline the story about halfway through, think "oh I'll figure it out when I get there" and then I get there and get hit by the most brutal form of writer's block ever and have no idea what to do with the story. My outlines aren't the most detailed and I mostly need a lot of time to finish them, but it's really nice to have them there to know how to structure my story.
I agree, each writer needs to find what works for him or her. For my current series (now with 24 books), each is typically 40 chapters long, about 2,000 words per chapter. I’m more a planster, where I start with a VERY loose outline, typically broken into four 10-chapter chunks, where I have a goal for each chunk. My ideal writing schedule, I write one chapter a day, the next day I rewrite the chapter from the previous day, and then write the next chapter-and so on. At the end of 40 days I have my first draft complete. Then on to re-writes! Yes, find what works for you.
I am in the middle of drafting a little story and have been struggling because I should jump around more. I’m usually a linear writer, but I don’t like the section I’m in right now. I wrote the beginning and have planned out the end of the 2nd and the 3rd act completely in my head. I’ve been trying to get up the courage to skip the middle and go back later, but it’s hard to skip something.
Thank you for your videos. I was editing as I go...... Now I'm trying to just get the draft done. I don't try to outline anymore either, bc it just hurts trying to find out all the scenes. I get ideas for the plot while I write scenes, just because I have no idea what will happen before I write the scene.
You know what...i should probably try jumping around. Im stuck at a certain point but i know what i want for later on. Perhaps if i jot down whatever else i can and come back later to fill it in
This was a very good video. Very clear and answered a lot of questions
2:25 I still think it's necesary for pantsers
The pro of strong planners is that they know what happens in almost every scene, so they can jump from parts to parts without disrupting the overall logic of the story/characters more easily
Pantsers writing scenes out of order might become a bit chaotic since the set-ups, character developement, important details and settings might change so much during the writing process and become very frustrating and hard to unfold and lay it down correctly for the writer
I'm currently writing my first book and engaged in number 7. Every two weeks I send a chapter to a coworker that has been alpha reading for me. I never stop and wait for feedback though, just keep on trucking! It is part of my motivation to keep going, but you make a fair point that I should not depend on it to push through writing my first book.
I enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing!
Yes yes yes, thank you for bringing back this topic!! :)
I love all the advise you give and that you are still building content during this crazy time! I have a trilogy in the works, first one is done about 10,000 in book 2, but I'm finding I'm gonna need a bit of an outline to keep track! I'm normally a pantser as well. Thanks again for sharing all your knowledge!
I did minimal outlining about 350 words of bullet point scenes that need to take place to get from start to finish and that's worked great for me. At the time though I didnt know how extensive some outlines could be. I guess I'm not as much of a plotter as I thought since those 350 words was all I really needed.
so happy i found this channel. you've been motivating me to stop procrastinating ans start drafting!
The edit as you go misconception really got me. That’s all a do. A chapter is never good enough to me
Just develop the mindset that you can fix it later! We all go back to do edits on the whole book eventually, and that's when you can dig into every little thing.
Wow hardest dilemma! I’m reading brightly burning and I get notified that you posted! What do I do haha?
I edit as I go (cleaning up as I finish scenes), and tweak story elements as necessary (already written scenes as well as later scenes in outline). Just my process.
I'm an outliner or novels because I am an overwriter. I tried to pants or just do the bare minimum of outlining and I have 43k of setup and knowing most of it's going to be cut. But it's different for screenplays. I tried outlining a screenplay once and it didn't go very well I didn't follow it at all.
It's sometimes funny how that works.
I'm world-building a New Adult Ailen in plain sight series and I want to see how different it is because I have to set up the world and circumstances and stay focused on the first book and not what I want to do in the third book- with major another planet type storyline goes on.
Hello smokey eye look? Snatched!
It's the Urban Decay on the run palette :)
Totally off topic, but I'm loving your eye make-up in this video. Gorgeous 😍
This is the first I've heard of "dirty draft" writing. That actually sounds like a really helpful middle step.
I think I'm probably somewhat of a zero-drafter. I have terrible problems with underwriting and Shiny New Idea Syndrome, so I think the only way I'll actually finish my first novel will be to just get it down really quick in a zero draft. (And Camp Nano's nearly here!) I've already got a writing routine going that's working pretty well, so hopefully things go well.
Some support against the first misconception... Rocky was written in 3 days and I think most of us would say that it’s an amazing movie
I'm actually thinking about experimenting with revising as I go in my next draft, because I have a whole STACK of first drafts that need editing and are overwhelming in their first-draftiness. My hope is that if I end up with a more coherent first draft, the editing (which I hate) won't be so horrible.
But like you said, I'm a more experienced writer; I've had the experience of reaching "the end" and I know I can push through the middle. I'm trying to iterate my process, rather than making my first attempt at writing a book.
After my second draft, I just get kinda lost. I know several main things I need to work on, but after that I just go blank on what needs to be fixed or improved.
My final draft is always prose, where I go from beginning to end, line-by-line. It's a nightmare.
I did zero draft in high school. Huh. That makes sense why I got done so fast and wondered why everyone else didn't
I find that the writers I talk to often fall into the "edit as you draft" pit of story death. No matter how much I point out the fallacy of that, they are so compelled to edit anyway.
Huh. I didn’t know what I do is called writing a zero draft. I sometimes write the whole book in a yellow pad because I write faster than I type, and that’s useful as I’m pantsing through the story because I’m thinking too fast to type along with my thoughts. I type it out nice and slow after. So now I know that’s a zero draft. Cool 🙃
I think I just need to own up to the fact that I've been using outlining as an excuse not to write.
Paused the video at the outlining part. What does it mean when you have a "sort of idea", start drafting, and outline as you draft??
A personal example of this is like my MC Cameron is reaching the plot twist but I think of something mid draft for the end or a few chapters in the future and write it down as the "outline"
Been doing it for a while now, taped all my "outline pages" on the wall (I have 23 1/2 of my "outline". [And counting] taped on my wall as of right now)
Ok, I never realised that it's ok to draft out of order, and that zero drafting is a *THING* but BOY am I thankful.
Ooh green is your color!
Hello Alexa. I’m an aspiring writer. Though I am quite young and I love ur vids. And I just wanted to ask what you think of the very first paragraph of a fantasy book I’m working on.
Here it is
Edward swung his knife upward and blocked the raging Mardurs attack. In response! The disgusting Bat-Like creature screeched loudly and tackled Edward to the ground.
The Mardur, a monster with long bat like ears. Black leathery skin. Giant bat like wings and long webbed feet slashed at Edwards face. Giving him long cuts all over his nose and cheek.
Remember this is just the first paragraph from. Waddya know the third draft of this book idea I’m quite confident in.
I’m just working on honing my skills and wondered what you think so far.
Thank you.
I have a bad habit of coming up with great ideas and concepts halfway through writing the draft so I annoy the hell out of myself waiting to finish the first draft so I can factor them in.
Thank you that helped a lot. Xx🥰
Is anyone Team Inconsistent? I go between being a linear plotter and being a back and forth pantser. It really depends on the book, how I feel and if I have any idea to go along with.
Definitely me. Sometimes I have to outline, others I just go where my characters take me. Though, technically my outlines are seat of the pants as well so....does that mean I’m a permanent pantser?
Well, my stories get written. I enjoy them to no end. I guess it doesn’t matter then, eh?
hey Alexa, good to see you are staying well in this time. My question to you is from a newb position.... What is your advice on setting manuscript format that is sometimes part of self drafting? Don't some places have differing format expectations?
This is really helpful. I need to dirty draft.
I feel like those first two are calling me out. I had a book that I was struggling with writing for four years (all through high school). This past November I sat down and said "screw it" and used the book idea for NaNoWriMo. It was the kick in the butt that I needed, but I have to rewrite it before sending it to an editor because the book makes a weird jump at the climax 😂😂
I think the outlining part, while true, is a bit misleading. You know your relationship with outlines bc you are a seasoned author that tried a lot of thing. I see A LOT of young authors pantsing because outlining is not fun and "spoils the story" but then they never finish the story because they wrote themselves into a corner. While many of those young authors who stick around later come to the idea that some type of outline is ok or even necessary. My point is, you can't cut corners in this craft. Easier doesn't always mean better and vice versa.
I always assumed I edit as I go. Guess not, because I made notes in the margins for parts I forgot to write, or parts I needed to remember to make better. But that was only during a quick scan of the last three or so pages to be sure I could get back in the zone.
Now, question: isn’t a zero draft kinda like an outline?
Because I attempted outlining for my latest series (and the end of my first series so that o tied up all the loose ends) and I noticed that I got around 40 or so pages for a 400 pg book. So wouldn’t that draft be like a zero draft? Because when writing it I do a quick idea of what I want the chapter to do, write down any dialogue that I deffo want to keep, or the scenes I want to happen. And I do this chapter by chapter, trying to keep at least 2-3 chapters ahead of my actual story draft. (Sometimes even writing most if not the entire outline before writing)
Awesome content
A zero draft very much sounds like my previous attempts at nanowrimo. Quantity over quality for nanowrimo.
Fun fact: Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone With the Wind backwards. The last chapter was the first thing she wrote, and she kept writing because she wanted to know how the characters got to where they were with each chapter she wrote.
Loved this video!! Just a quick question, what's the difference between an Alpa Reader, Beta Reader an CP? I have a slight idea but I was hoping on more insight
I'm not Alexa, but I can answer this one!
An alpha reader usually reads while you are still in the process of writing, so maybe you send each chapter as you finish it. A lot of people do this for cheerleading purposes--they want someone to compliment the story, which helps keep them motivated to continue writing. (But as Alexa said, this can backfire.)
A CP--critique partner--is someone who reads your book after you've finished it specifically to give craft feedback, especially on big picture things like character development, plot, etc., in order to help guide you through revisions. This is also usually a two-way relationship, so you do the same for their books.
Finally, beta readers are ideally people from your target audience or people who read a lot in the genre you're writing. They approach the book as a reader would, so they may not be able to give craft advice, but they can flag things that other readers might notice once your book is out in the world, so you can revise to make it more appealing to readers in your genre.
I hope that makes sense!
I use Wattpad for my “alpha readers”. As I get feedback, I note down plot holes, gratuitous scenes and such and use the enthusiasm of my alphas to keep writing and molding the draft. Granted, by then I usually have what you’ve called a “zero draft” that I’m transforming into the more detailed first draft on Wattpad.
I LOVE ALEXA DONNE!