2nd Draft of my Crime Novel: Underway!!

After what feels like: –

• 15 years since I had the idea for my novel;
• 6 years after I started writing it;
• 5 years since I finished the first draft;
• 4 years after I re-drafted the first few chapters;
• 3 years after I started studying Creative Writing,
• 5 months since I finished my studying (complete with my Diploma in Creative Writing!)

I have finally started the proper 2nd draft of my Crime novel.

Woo Hoo!

Ok, so the only number that might not be true is the 15 years since I had the idea, but the rest of them are about  right. I wrote the novel and didn’t know what to do with it. The only certainty was that it wasn’t good enough for publication. I must admit I felt daunted by what lay ahead so I did the honorable thing and stuck it in a drawer.

I’d previously written three other novels and reached the same conclusion. I didn’t think they were good enough and got lost trying to edit them. With this latest book, I just couldn’t let go. I decided that the only option was to study my craft.

Calling the OU!

So, whilst it’s been years since I finished the first draft, I haven’t stopped thinking about the story: The characters and the plot. I have so many scraps of paper with some scribbled character descriptions; or a major rethink to the plot. Thankfully I haven’t thrown them away. They are in a box file in the study, waiting.

I wanted to start the re-draft so many times but decided I’d be better waiting until I finished all the courses. Then I got distracted by shiny objects again. I signed up for a Forensics course and then I had to get some stories ready for an e-book my writing group are e-publishing.

But now, it is under way. I’ve just finished the 2nd draft of my first chapter and it feels GREAT.

This is more a re-write than just a 2nd draft. I’ve learned so many things over the last few years I have to put them into practice. I know that it’ll take me longer but I’m sure it will be worth it in the end.

Any tips and suggestions welcome.

Thank you for reading.