Types of Drafters: Short & Sweet? A Steady Blaze?
Figure Out Your Writing Style With Me!
Welcome to the Apple Hair CANON!
Here, I’ll explore creating a fictional universe, and I’m hoping you’ll follow along with your own world. I’m by no means an expert, so let’s discuss how to create a believable, magical, and captivating world. Let’s be storycatchers together!
Want to read Apple Hair, the boy band fantasy novel, from the very beginning? You can start here! Apple Hair is a fictional, Asian American boy band from Hawaii.
Welcome to the newsletter, and I’m excited to lay down the foundations of our storyworlds together, one word at a time.
Hi, storycatchers! Last time in the CANON, we talked about juggling multiple POVs. Then, we took a break to dive into Onsen Boys. I’m having a lot of fun with this format! Question: Where are you in your story-building/world-building journey? What are some of the things you’re struggling with?
I know that the drafting phase is where a lot of the struggle begins. We are so excited about jumping into a project, and then the cruel reality hits us. We’ll have to stick with this for fifty thousand more words? Many times even more?
I’ve given up many times in the drafting phase. However, I learned that what might help is knowing what type of drafter you are.
Some do well with the “skeleton-type” drafts—laying down the true bare bones of the story. The chapter might include just a little bit of exposition, with a lot of notes like: “add some dialogue here” or “make sure to hint at the climax in this section.” The goal here is to keep building this skeleton until you hit The End. Then, you can go back and beautify things and make each part come alive with detail (and actual sentences!).
This type of drafting can be a big relief to people who are scared about filling up each chapter with the perfect amount of words. There’s no need to worry about finding the right synonym, keeping each paragraph clean, or worrying about certain details. The goal is to do this until all the main story beats are figured out.
On the other hand, there is the very clean drafter, who likes to write as if they’re going to turn in their first draft to an editor. This type of writer doesn’t skip around. Instead, they try to infuse as much magic into their words from the get-go. This is a slower process, but the end result is a rough draft that can be read from front to back (without too many questions from the reader).
A lot of us fall in the middle. Not so much short and sweet, and not so much a steady blaze either. However, it’s important to know where you might stand. I guess this goes back to the pantsing vs. plotting debate and finding what works best for you!
What kind of relationship do you have with your drafting style? Are you satisfied with your process, and will you experiment with changing it anytime soon?
I know I’ve been referencing novels so far, but I’m also interested in the drafting styles of those who write short stories or one-shots! Let me know! Also, for storycatchers who write articles like this one, do you embrace a more skeleton style? Or maybe you’re like me—writing more in a neat, chronological order.
More than anything, I love how there is no “right answer” in writing. There are best practices for sure, such as using paragraphs (I heard about people who don’t believe in paragraphs though?) and including some sort of conflict in every scene. But as storytellers, I’m encouraging both of us to find our signature styles. It’s kind of like searching for your best outfit! And there’s no shame in swapping out one of your core pieces every once in a while.
For my paid subscribers, here’s a link to early access to Debut in Broad Daylight. I appreciate you very much! A reminder that this is a very rough draft—meaning very unedited! You’re getting the first sneak peek, and the boy band members are glad you’re getting an early start with them.
What would you like me to discuss in the next post? Jump into my Chat or on one of my Notes, and I’ll be happy to hear your input. Be happy while writing this week!