Uploads from Abbie Emmons

Currently Playing: How to Edit Your First Draft Without Losing Your Mind

This video is sponsored by ProWritingAid ✨ Get 20% off yearly Premium plans with code "ABBIE20" 👉 https://prowritingaid.com/pp/AbbieEmmons?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=partner-influencer&utm_campaign=Abbie-Emmons-2025&utm_content=Edit-without-losing-your-mind&utm_term= Okay, be honest: how many times have you opened your first draft… stared at the mess on the page… and thought, “I have no idea how to fix this”? Don’t worry--you’re not a bad writer, and you're definitely not alone. That’s why I made this video: to give you a super simple, beginner-friendly system for editing your first draft without spiraling into chaos. We'll walk through the three essential phases of editing so you know exactly what to fix (and in what order), plus how to spot common issues like clunky sentences, repetition, plot holes, and weak writing. If you’ve been avoiding editing because it feels confusing, frustrating, or just way too big to tackle… THIS is your starting point. Open your messy first draft, and let’s fix it. ✍️ ________________________________ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 How do you self-edit a first draft? 01:40 Phase 1: The Clarity Pass 06:41 Phase 2: The Line Edit Pass 09:42 Phase 3: The Polish Pass 12:50 Level up your editing game with ProWritingAid! 13:43 What editing stage are you in? ________________________________ *My NEW book, Make Your Story Matter, is now available for preorder!* 👉 https://abbieemmonsauthor.com/make-your-story-matter ✨ V A L U A B L E R E S O U R C E S✨ ❤️GET BONUS CONTENT + SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL: https://www.patreon.com/abbieemmons 📚READ MY BOOKS: https://amzn.to/3Ivk0Gr 🖥️TAKE MY SCRIVENER MASTERCLASS: https://makeyourstorymatter.teachable.com/p/teachmescrivener ✏️TAKE MY EDITING MASTERCLASS: https://www.learnfromabbie.com/p/edit-your-book-like-a-pro 💬TAKE MY BOOK BLURB MASTERCLASS: https://www.learnfromabbie.com/p/how-to-craft-a-bestseller-book-blurb 📓GET MY FREE WRITING TEMPLATES: https://abbieemmons.ck.page/make-your-story-matter 💵GET 20% OFF SCRIVENER - USE CODE "ABBIE" → https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener-affiliate.html?fpr=abbie26 🎤LISTEN TO MY PODCAST WITH MY SISTER: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kate-and-abbie-show 🎥 MY GEAR + WRITING TOOLS: https://abbieemmonsauthor.com/my-gear 🎵 I GET ALL MY MUSIC FROM EPIDEMIC SOUND… CLAIM YOUR 60-DAY FREE TRIAL HERE: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/v02bl3/ ✨F O L L O W ✨ blog: https://bit.ly/2Kl21m8 facebook: https://bit.ly/2FS2Ikh instagram: http://bit.ly/2Xr5hUI tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makeyourstorymatter patreon: https://www.patreon.com/abbieemmons Business inquiries: abbie@abbieemmonsauthor.com Questions and support: help@abbieemmonsauthor.com ✨ A B O U T ✨ My name is Abbie Emmons I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the psychology of storytelling and transform their ideas into a masterpiece. Story isn’t about “what happens” — it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel – and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!