Can we be honest? The first draft is the hardest. It’s the first step into your novel and it’s often the most difficult. But yet, it’s also the most important.
In this blog, I’m going to help you get through that first draft. Get it completed in the shortest amount of time possible so you can submit it to an editor or beta readers.
When I first started writing, I struggled with time management. I wrote, but then I would stop. I would shut down my laptop and do other things, like scroll through my phone. I would have to force myself to focus because the distractions were intense. But then I customized my schedule. I started writing in the afternoon and again before bed because I discovered my time pockets.
Let’s face it. A first draft is the starting line of your book. It is not the final copy, so don’t aim for perfection in the first round. You’ll find that you need to make a lot of changes to improve your writing before publication. Yet, the first draft is important because it allows you to get your ideas down on paper and out of your head. It is a lot of work, but once you finish it, you can move on to the next phase.
The revision process!
There is no one way to start your first draft. It’s a process that you will figure out along the way. Personally, I start with an outline and then I brainstorm. Once I have a good idea of what I want to write about, I jot it down on the outline. This gives me a clear picture of what I have to work with in my story.
A lot of writers struggle with finishing their first draft. They can’t even get to the revision phase because they’re stuck on the first step. So the book just sits unfinished on your laptop. If you find yourself in this situation, then try some of these strategies to help you finish your first draft so you can move on.
First, try writing at a different time during the day. Or night. Set a time limit for yourself. Only 20-30 minutes and shoot for at least 500 words. If you know you have a limited amount of time to finish your writing session, then you will be more laser focused. Block out as many distractions as you can and go for it!
Second, try discovering your writer average. This takes the pressure off having to write 2K plus words a day. It’s unnecessary because once you know your average, your time pockets, you can write with less anxiety. If you need to take a break, take it. Then you can return to writing with more excitement.
I hope this helped and encouraged you to keep going.
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Happy writing! 🙂