My Dirty Little Writing Secret

I discovered a little secret this week while editing my novel. I've never heard anyone speak about this little trick before so listen closely.

Write your second draft in a different genre.

Why? I can tell you why.

Many moons ago I began the first draft of my debut comedy novel. And if you watched this weeks video on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykG9Crh1d04&t=1s I talk about being good at starting novels. I must admit, I talked about that based on experience. Up until page 6 on my first draft I absolutely loved it and I still do, but the rest is just a pile of dog poop. As first drafts generally are.

I felt my characters were flat and my plot was thin. And the way I wrote, well, it would be more interesting in a different genre. I chose mystery. I decided to give up my 6 year practice of writing comedy and delve into an entirely new genre. Nothing could go wrong. I wrote out a stellar plot, deep characters (the same as in draft 1 just a little more fleshed out), and I began what I thought was draft 1 of an entirely new novel. I now refer to it as draft 2.

After doing the edits and finishing draft 3 I realised my early assumptions of my mystery novel being an instant best-seller were crushed. Mainly because I had - and still have - little to no grasp of the genre. You see, I enjoy mystery's. I nice whodunnit that let's me play along is great fun. But comedy is where my heart is at and it's what I've been studying for 6 years and what I gravitate to as a reader and a viewer.

Now I am on to draft 4. After re-reading draft 1 I decided I needed more work done on character development. So I sat down as I usually do to flesh out back stories and character relationships. I started to write one or two sentences but for the first time ever, with minimal thought the pen flew across the page. I realised by putting my characters in completely different situations I knew them really well. Nothing about them would surprise me at this point. And I am so thankful I got through those months of heart-ache without giving up!

So, that's my dirty little writing secret.

Here's a recap:

1) Draft one will always suck and that's okay.

2) Never give up. The more work you put in the more you get out.

3) Blood sweat and bent fingers pays off.

4) My dirty little secret: Write your characters in a completely different genre. I went from comedy to mystery and the knowledge of my characters has gone through the roof.

5) Play around and find your own dirty little writing secret.

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