Saturday, May 15, 2010

The First Draft

Once you have decided on the book that you want to write, you should start on your first draft. This may change by the time the book is completed, although chances are that you will keep some of the information in the final book that you have in your first draft.

Everyone writes in a different way. There are those who rewrite as they are going along in a book and those who complete the first draft before attempting any rewriting. It is best to write the first draft and get it all on paper, or computer, before you start any rewriting. This can allow you to see the direction that your book has taken and how it looks. You should not get discouraged if your first draft is less than magnificent - this is only your first draft.

Many writers who write fiction like to get that first draft finished before they start any research into the book that needs to be finished. Having the first draft competed does not mean that you have completed your book, but that you have completed a rough draft of a book. The average book is about 80,000 words, although a rough draft of a book may be less.


In some cases, writers will sketch out a first draft that is mostly narrative. It contains only sparse dialogue, to be put in later when re-writing. If you are writing a fiction book, this is a good way to get the book down on paper, see if the plot makes sense, and make sure that you present a conflict and resolution to the conflict.
There are two types of conflict that can be contained in your book. These are either internal conflicts or external conflicts. Internal conflicts are those that take place in the minds of the characters of the book. They can be due to their perception of the world or their perception about another individual.

External conflicts are those that are caused by outside influences. Misunderstandings or third parties getting in the way are examples of external conflicts that arise in fiction books.

A good way to figure out the conflict in the book is to present the reader with a question that will be answered at the end of the book. This type of conflict is often used in murder mysteries. The reader does not know who committed the murder until the climax of the book, after which the conflict has been resolved. A good book presents not only external conflicts, but internal conflicts as well. It also may present a series of conflicts in the book that come together to be resolved by the time the book ends. It is important to create conflict in a fiction book that will keep the reader reading and wanting to see a resolution in the end.