What the Second Draft Taught Me

I’ve just finished my second draft. Honestly, I’ve learned so much about my writing process. This was my first time doing major revisions on a large scale. This is what I’ve learned.

1.  Break it up. Focus on big changes first. The first draft was to figure the characters out. The second draft was to rewrite it so it would be structured, having a clear beginning, middle, and end. I wanted my characters’ actions to have consequences. I believe the third draft will be on maintaining tension, and smoothing out smaller plot contrivances and making sure the scary scenes are actually scary. The last thing I will worry about is prose.

2. Pretty language is useless this early. Okay, so this was more a critique of my first draft that spilled over to the second. I had to destroy some beautiful lines. I learned my lesson–while I did write my best, I did not waste time making it perfect.

3. Perfection is still not an option yet. Basically, I’m still putting the puzzle pieces together. I’ve got all of the edges assembled, and I have a vague idea of what the picture will look like. However, it’s still not finished. There’s a whole mess of pieces that need to be organized. The only thing I can say is that it’s better. I’ve made progress.

4. It’s easier to learn from your mistakes when they’re behind you. I’ll give it a few weeks until I start the third draft.

This is just what I’ve learned about my own writing process. Everyone’s is different, and the only way to discover yours is through experience. Good luck, and stay spooky <3

Quick Tips on Writing Horror

Concepts to use in horror

• Being watched/followed. Can be used with plots like a home invasion or someone watching another person through a webcam.

• Losing control. Can be used with plots like possession, being forced to kill/hurt people to save oneself or a loved one, being blackmailed, etc.

• The nature of humanity. This can work when the “monster” is a human, and can call into question the concept of good and evil. Works well with the above in my opinion, as a human being doing monstrous things can sometimes lead to questions about humanity and whether humankind is good.

• The end of humanity. Can be cheesy (like in a lot of zombie plots), but is innately scary to a lot of people to think about. Things that seem more plausible, such as an apocalypse related to pandemics or environmental pollution, can come across in a more serious way when done subtly.

• Isolation. In some cases this can seem a little too convenient to the plot, but when done right isolation can up the terror of the plot, or even serve as the plot itself. Being trapped somewhere, like in the woods or in a small space, could work for this.

• One’s own insignificance. Most cases I’ve seen where this works well show the character’s smallness in relation to something else. The ocean, space, cosmic gods, etc.

• The unknown. Often works well with the above in my opinion. The ocean and space, for example, would be good settings for this.

• Instinctive responses. The human brain tends to naturally react to things like violence, disease and contamination, and other things that threaten survival. Using these things too gratuitously can easily become campy or even voyeuristic and insensitive, but they can be used well.

Audio Dramas + Horror

— Lying Awake at Night // a poem

Batman is me whenever someone forces me to go to a party

@lostlikealicewriting

@lostlikealicewriting

Knowing how much to plot before you write

At Least

Recommend

Above and Beyond

Alternatively-

Writer: Looks around room. Spots a can of Lysol on a table.

“The great king Lyson, ruler of the nation of Tablelria…”

I have done both! XD

— Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary (via the-book-diaries)