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r/writing • … • u/Dry_Statement_7807

Fear of writing my second draft

Hey guys,

this is another rant post and I really don't mind if you just scroll through it. It's just that I'm a bit frustrated and would really embrace some kind or motivational words. I am almost finished with my first draft, and to be honest, I don't really know what to think. It's my first novel and I am torn between'this is great' and 'this is just so bad and cringe' (depends on the chapter and on my mood).

Now I have to think about writing my second draft, but it just seems so overwhelming just to get through everything. I have about 200 pages and it's just a lot to get through. I would start to read everything again once I finish my first draft, make extensive comments etc. But what I don't know is just how exactly I should go about it. Do I really 'rewrite' everything? I'm a pretty clean writer so it is already more or less coherent and somewhat readable. But I think it's, of course, not yet enough. Would you suggest to change some paragraphs / chapters or really rewrite everything from scratch? I don't really know how to approach this.

Secondly: I'm lacking motivation right now, and I find myself move from inspirational days to more and more days of writer's block. Part of me just wants to finish the first draft already and show it to people, but I don't really know when I should invite beta-readers. I'm really self-critical about all this and I don't want to share half-assed stuff, but I also need a little push and involving some friends in my work could really help. I just don't know if I should first write my second draft.

P.S.: When should I think about writing a manuscript and contacting a literature agency?

Any advice?

Thanks so much!

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