Writing your first novel can feel like an overwhelming journey. From the spark of an idea to outlining, drafting, and editing—it’s easy to feel lost in the process. One of the most confusing stages for new writers is the third draft of a novel. Is it the final draft? A revision draft? Or just another rewrite?
Let’s clear up the confusion.
According to the widely used five-draft method for novel writing, the third draft plays a critical role. It’s not about polishing every sentence to perfection yet—but it is about transforming your earlier efforts into a cohesive manuscript that starts to resemble a finished book. If you're a beginning novelist wondering what to do in the third draft, this guide will walk you through the purpose, process, and best practices for this pivotal stage of writing.
What Is the Third Draft of a Novel?
In the five-draft method, the third draft is often considered the rough manuscript draft. Here’s how the five-draft structure generally works:
- First Draft – A discovery draft, where ideas and outlines come together in a loose form.
- Second Draft – A structural draft, used to rewrite the story with better plot flow and character arcs.
- Third Draft – The manuscript draft, where the full story is written in novel format for the first time.
- Fourth Draft – A refinement draft that adds clarity, emotion, and polish.
- Fifth Draft – A final proofing and copyediting draft for submission or publishing.
So the third draft is when the novel takes on real shape. It’s a full, beginning-to-end manuscript version of your story, and while it doesn’t need to be perfect, it should include all the key scenes, character development, and plot progression.
1. Let Creativity Flow—Don't Aim for Perfection
At this stage, the key is progress, not perfection. The third draft isn’t meant to be flawless—it’s meant to be complete. That means pushing past perfectionism and letting your story unfold organically.
Think of it this way: your first two drafts were the blueprint. Now, you’re building the house. Get all the walls up and the roof on. You’ll paint and decorate later.
This is the draft where your scenes finally exist in full. You’re not just outlining or revising anymore—you’re writing the book as it will be read.
2. Put Research on the Back Burner (For Now)
If your story takes place in a specific time period or location, or involves technical elements like law, medicine, or science fiction world-building, don’t get bogged down by research during the third draft.
Instead:
- Make quick notes in the margins (e.g., [Research 1920s Paris fashion]) and keep writing.
- Focus on storytelling and pacing.
- Save fact-checking and deeper research for the fourth or fifth draft.
The goal is to maintain momentum. Over-researching in this phase can kill your flow and stall your progress.
3. Set a Realistic but Firm Deadline
One of the biggest hurdles new writers face is finishing the draft. Without a deadline, it’s easy to procrastinate, overthink, or get lost in world-building.
Tips to stay on track:
- Use tools like Scrivener, Google Docs, or a simple calendar to set milestones.
- Create word count goals (e.g., 1,000 words a day).
- Allow room for breaks but don’t lose momentum.
If you get stuck, jump ahead to a scene you’re excited to write and come back to the difficult part later. The important thing is to keep the story moving forward.
4. Silence Your Inner Critic
This is a tough one. By now, you’ve read enough books to know what polished prose looks like—and it can be painful to realize your writing isn’t there yet.
But this isn’t the time to critique. The third draft is not for editing or self-judgment. It's about getting the entire story into one cohesive, structured document. Editing comes after the story exists.
If you constantly stop to fix each sentence, you'll never reach the end.
5. Have Fun—This Is When the Story Comes to Life
Writing your third draft can be one of the most fulfilling stages of novel writing. For the first time, your characters are interacting in full scenes, your chapters are flowing, and your themes are beginning to emerge.
This is the moment where writing transitions from planning to storytelling. The third draft gives you the satisfaction of seeing your novel take real form—a first glimpse at what readers will eventually experience.
Celebrate milestones. Share updates with fellow writers. Stay excited about the process.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Messy Middle
The third draft is often called the “messy middle” of novel writing. It’s where the transformation happens—but it’s also where doubt and fatigue can set in. Don’t give up.
You’re not just writing words—you’re building something lasting. Each draft gets you closer to the finished novel you’ve dreamed of.
Keep writing. Keep believing. And most importantly—finish the draft.