Writing a Children's Book

Lesson 8: Polishing and Editing.

Second Draft.

Once you are satisfied the manuscript is structurally sound, it is time to write the second draft. Some writers produce two or three drafts of the manuscript, while others may write as many as the ten.

A second draft can be a complete rewrite, made from scratch, and without reference to the first draft.

More commonly, a second draft is a modified or edited version of the first one. If so, most people write it "over the top" of the original. In the days before word processors were in general use, the second draft had to be completely retyped, but now sections can be left or changed at will.

Always keep an untouched copy of that first draft, just in case you need to go back to it.

Here are some functions of the second draft.

Second Draft Tasks and Functions

Tidy up character interactions in the early chapters.

No matter how much thinking and planning you do about characters before you write the book, you will always know them better by the time you have finished. Characters evolve, and sometimes change considerably. They can develop in completely unexpected directions. If this happens, you need to change the early chapters to reflect the evolved personalities. Characters do change during a story, but sometimes the change is less about “natural” growth in response to challenges, changes and chances, and more about the author having a better idea.

Make sure the character descriptions match throughout the book. If the character is blonde in chapter 10, make sure she isn't brunette-without-benefit-of-dye in Chapter 19. Keep an eye on character ages, as well. Remember, for example, that characters of 10 and 11, respectively, might be as little as a week apart in age, or as much as 23 months. Don’t accidentally have siblings six months apart in age. The second draft is also an ideal place to check character names. It is surprisingly easy to wind up with two or three characters whose names are too similar. If you have a “Charis”, a “Chris” and a “Carola” in one short ms, you have a problem, because some readers are always going to mix these characters up. Now is the time to change them.

If you don't want a too-radical alteration, you could change “Chris” to “Kris” or “Carola” to “Marina”. Otherwise, you could refer to one by a nickname.

Be sure to check surnames as well as given names.

If you have the character whose name doesn't seem to suit him or her, you can either change it or modify it. A “William” who doesn't seem like a “William” might be changed to a “Nicholas”, or to “Will”. You can also use part of a surname instead of a given name. “William Jones” might be known to his friends as “Jonesy”.

Remove redundant scenes, and add any that seem to be missing.

Make sure dialogue fulfils a purpose.

Check your timeline. If the manuscript takes place over three weeks, make sure there are not too many Tuesdays.

Don't send your characters to the bank on Sunday, and make sure you have covered any schooldays, weekends or holidays.

Timelines are especially important in time travel books like "Trinity Street".

Make sure you haven't "lost" any characters. If your protagonist has to look after a little sister every Wednesday, make sure this is followed through or else make other arrangements.

Don't let characters go away for a week without making provision for the dog.

Make sure the weather is appropriate for the stated time of year.

Make sure your characters are acting according to physical capabilities. In other words, remember that most ten-year-olds can't walk for more than an hour or so without a rest.

Once you have sorted out all these minor problems, you will be ready to write your next (and possibly final) draft.

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