Drafting

Drafting, in writing, is the process of composing the base of a text. The term generally refers to the earlier stages of the process, when the foundation is still being laid, but any subsequent round of edits or rewrites that involves parsing the entire text, regardless of where in the writing process it was performed, is colloquially known as its own draft.

By its most accepted definition, however, drafting itself is the translation of ideas into text, rather than the perfection of existing text. This separates the act of drafting from the object of a draft, though the two terms are connected.

Associated Terms

Rough Draft

A rough draft is generally the initial transferral of ideas onto some sort of organized format. Conversationally, it is often used in the same context as a first draft, but, despite the name, the rough draft typically comes first. In a certain sense, the rough draft barely a draft at all; the term is used most prominently in reference to whatever is formed to plan for and support the creation of a first draft.

First Draft

A first draft is a draft that is able to stand on its own, but has not been edited or critically looked over. The first draft of an essay makes a coherent point, and the first draft of a novel tells a story that can be understood without requiring outside context, but neither are expected to be particularly good. A first draft is, generally, entirely drafted; it consists exclusively of text that is fresh, as opposed to being rewritten.

Initial Drafts

Initial drafts (typically at least the second and third draft) are drafts created after the first draft which still contain a notable amount of drafting. For example, the second draft of a novel might insert new scenes and characters that meaningfully overhaul the plot, which, as entirely new elements, are parts of drafting that persist even during the rewriting process. When an impactful amount of this overhauling is no longer happening during the writing process, the project is generally accepted to have moved out of drafting and fully into editing.

A manuscript is one of many drafts that will be created through a novel's lifetime.

Final Draft

The definition of a final draft differs greatly based on the medium. In an essay, it is generally the draft that gets turned in. In a novel, it can be a number of things; the draft that gets sent to agents and publishers (also known as the manuscript) or the finished product that gets sent out to the public once the publishers are through with working on it. The most universal constant in a final draft is that it is the draft the writer is as close to fully satisfied with it as possible.

The Act of Drafting

Drafting itself is marked, in some ways, by the lack of editing. Thus, editing a first draft as one goes is generally an ill-advised strategy. Drafting is most concerned with forming a full, comprehensible text, and thus concerns such as spelling, grammar, and even writing quality are heavily de-emphasized in favor of merely being able to put pen to paper. The translation of thoughts to words is often somewhat messy; therefore, drafting is focused on quantity over quality. The act of perfecting and even ensuring quality in any capacity lies almost entirely within the bounds of editing.