Draft 4 is Done (and So Am I, Honestly)
The evolution of a monster manuscript and the breakdown that came with it
As of last night, I finished Draft 4 of my debut novel, The Code We Break.
Current word count: 164,441.
Current mental state: Somewhere between mild euphoria and "don’t talk to me about adverbs for at least a week."
If you’ve been following along, you already know this book has been a journey. But now that Draft 4 is finally in the rearview, I wanted to break down how each stage of this process shaped the story and pushed me one step closer to unhinged.
Draft 1: The Chaos Draft
Word Count: ~180,000
This was pure word vomit. No filters. No rules. Just emotion and momentum, and too many long scenes, I thought were clever at the time. Plot holes? Yes. Emotional whiplash? Absolutely. Worldbuilding I never used? You bet.
But that’s what the first draft is for. It’s the part where you let the story tell you what it wants to be, and then suffer later.
Draft 2: Character Rehab
This draft was where I got surgical. I went back through and asked the uncomfortable questions:
Does this character make sense, or are they just reacting to the mood I was in that day?
Are these arcs emotionally honest or just dramatic?
Would anyone actually talk like this if they had an ounce of self-preservation?
I trimmed scenes, rewrote major moments, and filled in the emotional gaps. The characters started feeling like people instead of vehicles for trauma or adolescents driven by hormones. The story began to click.
Draft 3: Plot Surgery (and Uncontrolled Expansion)
This was the part where I was supposed to tighten things. What actually happened?
The manuscript ballooned to over 200,000 words. Yes, you read that right.
I restructured the plot, fixed pacing, filled holes, and answered questions. But I also added entire scenes, new transitions, and enough internal monologue to power a therapy session. It was necessary, and excessive. Draft 3 gave the story structure, but left me with an even bigger beast than before.
Draft 4: The Hardest One Yet
This one nearly broke me.
It wasn’t about discovery this time. It was about cutting. Clarifying and holding every single paragraph up to the light and asking if it deserved to live. I stripped it all down to the essentials. I deleted lines I loved. I tightened the prose sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph. And I did it all while juggling alpha reader feedback, which was both incredibly helpful and emotionally brutal.
Nothing hits harder than someone saying, “This scene didn’t land for me,” when you bled over that page. But that’s the work, right? You listen. You adjust. You rewrite it better. Sometimes you take a break to cry and detox your brain.
And somehow, I managed to bring this version down to 164,441 words. It finally reads like a book. Not a draft. Not a hobby project. A real book.
What’s Next: Draft 5 (Line Edit Purgatory)
Draft 5 will be the final pass. Line edits. Cut repetitions. Make sure the prose flows and the style is consistent. That brutal but necessary comb-through to catch everything I’ve been too close to see.
Will I cut more? Yes.
Will I end up hating half my sentences and rewriting them just to change them back? Also yes.
Will it be worth it? Absolutely.
After that, I’ll be moving into edits for Books 2 and 3, which are already written. I repeat, already written. That’s not a flex, it’s a lifeline. Once I’m in those drafts, I’ll be able to share more of a method for how I’ve approached this series.
Assuming there is a method.
Right now, it feels like a swirling mix of gut instinct, sweat, coffee, and the same four songs on repeat until the emotional damage kicks in. But the momentum is real, and I’m riding it as far as it’ll take me.
A Moment of Gratitude (Before I Collapse)
Huge thanks to the group of writers in my community on Discord and on Threads who’ve offered moral support, encouragement, and the occasional reminder that I’m not actually losing my mind. I’ve loved every chaotic second of sharing this process with you, especially the parts where you made me feel less alone in it.
Vibe Check: The Code We Break
If you're looking for a novel that feels like a high-stakes, binge-worthy TV series with the tension and spice of your favorite dark romance books, this is for you.
Think: A brilliant, independent analyst who stumbles upon a deadly secret, forced to rely on a morally grey hacker who is equal parts lethal protector and the very reason she’s in danger.
If you like these TV shows, you'll love The Code We Break:
The Night Agent: For the high-stakes conspiracy plot where a capable woman is thrown into danger and must trust a highly skilled, protective man who operates in the shadows.
Reacher: For a morally grey, brilliant hero who is a quiet force of nature. Maddox, like Reacher, solves problems with his mind and brutal, lethal efficiency, becoming fiercely protective of the woman who gets past his walls.
Mr. Robot / Person of Interest: For the dark, high-tech thriller atmosphere. The story is steeped in the world of elite hackers, digital ghosts, and invasive surveillance, where code is the ultimate weapon.
If you read these authors, Maddox and Vivien are your next obsession:
Ana Huang: If you love possessive, morally grey heroes who would burn the world for their woman and aren't afraid to be dominant. Maddox's "You're mine" energy is a perfect match.
Sophie Lark: For the blend of intense, high-stakes action with raw, passionate romance. The dynamic of a dangerous man and a strong woman who can meet his intensity is central to the story.
Pre-orders are now available. If you send me proof of your order, you’ll receive a special thank you: three months of premium access to my spicy stories here on Substack… to keep you busy until the 10th of October, release day!
Do you have questions on drafting? Would you like to commiserate? Leave a comment!
Nicky xox
Amazing. You are AMAZING.