Writing is not as simple as putting pen to paper (or putting fingers to keys) to produce a genius work of writing. Sure, you might be able to write a short high school essay in an hour or two or in an evening. This might be good enough for a short writing assignment in school or a simple blog post.
Once you reach university, or want to write something especially captivating or well-written, one draft just won’t do anymore.
Some people can write in a single sitting or write one draft and have it work. I can’t. It depends on your writing style.
Once I really started taking my writing and academics seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever produced a good essay that didn’t have at least two drafts (one first version, then a second revised version). Sometimes I even have up to five or six drafts!
A draft is essentially the first ‘prototype,’ or ‘alpha’ version, of your essay. It is the first working finished product of your writing. The polish and fine-tuning come later.
Usually, my writing begins with an idea that caught my attention, and I write down the ideas that I think fall under that heading. I don’t pay attention much to overall coherence or flow. I just write. I do try to keep it coherent, of course, but I know that a future draft or revision will tackle that part.
Then, once I’ve reached the approximate number of words, run out of things to write, or feel like it’s wrapping up, I begin my review phase. In the review phase, I pay attention to the structure and outline. Sometimes, I notice that I focused on something slightly different than my initial idea or took a slightly different path. Sometimes, when re-reading the texts I want to write about, I notice that I want to write about something different.
The hard part of revising is murdering your darlings! A “darling” is something we’ve written that we just can’t let go of. To “murder” these “darlings” is to cut anything that doesn’t support your main idea or thesis, even if you are emotionally attached to it. (For more on “murdering your darlings,” see Roy Peter Clark’s book Murder Your Darlings: And Other Gentle Writing Advice from Aristotle to Zinsser)
A formal outline, as a revision outline, I usually do after my first draft. I take note of everything that was written and note the structure of the essay. (For more on structuring and revision outlines, see “Outlining Academic Essays” in our Writing Center).
In my second draft, I have a clearer idea of the topic and focus. I also begin to tie together my ideas more coherently, see the flow and logic more clearly, and try to incorporate better flow into my writing. But, I know that I can always rearrange sections later to make it more coherent, so it’s not a main focus. The main thing at this stage is to write something complete with little extraneous material.
Once I’ve finished the second draft, I then go through the draft to see where things might fit better (rearrange sections) and also cut out anything that seems repetitive or just not as important. Again, we have to murder our darlings. 😰
It can sometimes feel like wasted effort or lost time to cut out already-written material. Sometimes, we have to cut 50% or more. I tell myself that I at least learned something tangential about the topic, or I have material for another essay or blog post. I don’t trash the material, but it’s kept there for other purposes. The previous drafts are saved. I can always use what I’ve written in a future essay, so it’s not a total loss!
I also produce a new draft every time a significant change is made. A significant change might include cutting a paragraph, rearranging or restructuring the essay, or changing my argument. I try a new approach. If it doesn’t work out, there is always the old essay to fall back on. Sometimes I even produce a third draft as a hybrid of the first two drafts! Other times, I write two essays, each with a slightly different argument. I then compare those essays for which one looks and sounds better. At this stage, the essay doesn’t have to be polished or final, but a fully written draft to work with can help you compare different drafts.
It’s better to submit something that’s coherent and on-topic. Your professors or whoever will be receiving the writing will thank you. A happy professor is one who tends to give out better grades. And if you’ve done this painstaking work that most often avoid, using essay outlines, you will seem like a cut above the rest, possibly attaining that A-range grade.
Writing can be a messy job. Multiple drafts; multiple sections; multiple approaches or arguments. I even rewrite some sections or material I cut in more recent drafts. The rewritten sections almost always sound better, and I think of the older drafts as “practice sections.”
Don’t be afraid of multiple drafts. Some people race as a sprint to the end, submitting the first draft they write. If it sounds okay, then it’s fine. They get a B- grade and move on. “At least I passed!”
Writing isn’t hard. Yet, good writing is hard. Good writing involves fussing over multiple drafts. Almost nobody can write from start to finish and make a perfect attempt in one try. Write a first draft, take a break, and revisit it in a few hours or even days later. After taking a break from it, you will begin to see the cracks and where you can improve. Maybe you get a new idea in between writing the first draft and your looking at it later. Now it’s time to write draft number two. This process can be repeated ad infinitum, albeit with diminishing results. Don’t be afraid of taking the plunge. Write that second draft.
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