Chapter 8: Drafts
A rough draft is the first version of something that is written. This can come from brainstorming or elsewhere. Wherever it comes from, this first complete set of ideas will be the base of the poem .It can be done on paper or on the computer. Generally, begin on paper and transfer it to the computer for either succeeding drafts or the final draft.
Speaking of which, it is always better to have more than one draft of a poem, whether it is to make your message clear or to correct errors. Keep all drafts to the work. It will help you track the writing’s progress and your development as a poet.
Succeeding Drafts
After you complete the rough draft, rewrite a second draft with all the corrections in place. It is best to abandon it for a while, at least for an hour, so you can be objective and fair when you read it again. Amazingly, you might see things that were not so obvious on the first look. Those corrections will go into a third draft.
If there are no visible errors or changes you would like to make, Spell Check and Grammar Check in Microsoft Word should be used. Other options would be to consult a trusted friend, teacher, or anyone with good command of the language. If there are problems, correct them, and rewrite the poem again with all the changes in place.
By using a thesaurus, you will have an expanded list of words at your disposal. The thesaurus gives you words that have the same meaning of a particular word. Once chosen, the preferred word can be exchanged for a word or a phrase.
No matter how many drafts you write, it seems there is always room for improvement. Striving for perfection is a great goal, however, you will have to make a conscious effort to stop at a certain number of rewrites. Otherwise, you may never get to a completed poem.
Final Drafts
The final draft is the copy that is the absolute, completed version of the poem. If it were being published, this is the item you would submit.
In this phase, you decide about aligning everything on the left of the page or centering it on the page. You can also arrange it in the shape of a design. The way you want it to look to the reader is determined in this draft. For example, you can write a poem about a tree by arranging the words in the shape of a tree.
Recap
A first draft is never enough although some have accomplished it.It is usually best to write a second draft in case of errors. Sometimes there is just a better way to say what you have said, which can lead to additional drafts.
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