First Drafts

Last post I talked about the pre-writing process: outlines, beat sheets, character bios, worldbuilding, etc. 

This month is about the next step in the writing journey: first drafts.

Let me preface this post by saying that no first draft is perfect. You may hate it, and that’s okay. I have never liked a first draft I’ve written. It’s not supposed to be perfect. What’s most important is that you finish it. Most people, when they begin writing a book, never finish their first drafts. They lose passion for the project, or they simply think their idea isn’t good enough or their draft sucks. There is always time to correct mistakes and make things better. Don’t give up! Push through!

My tips for success when writing your first draft:

1. Writing software. You don’t need to spend any money to get this. You can simply use Microsoft Word. I use Google Docs because then I can share my drafts with beta readers when I’m ready, and they can comment directly on the doc. This is what I prefer, but a lot of people swear by Scrivener (which costs $). Other good ones include LivingWriter, Storyist, and FinalDraft. It doesn’t matter what you choose because the main thing is that you have an organized place to write your story.

2. Set up your space. Make sure you have a comfortable, quiet place to do your writing, and have what you need in front of you so you’re not constantly getting distracted. Have water and maybe coffee or tea on your desk. Make sure your lighting is good and warm (no harsh white light). Light a candle. Put on music if your brain can handle it, or work in silence. Put phones on vibrate, and push them away from you. Try to set up a separate place where you “work,” that isn’t just your couch. I live in a tiny NYC apartment, and use my kitchen table as my desk. I don’t ever write or edit on my couch or bed.

3. Gather your outlines & notes. I’m someone who likes to have these things in front of me while drafting. I have my notebook open, all of my outlines either printed or open in tabs. This makes it easy for me to search and grab what I need in the moment, so I’m not interrupting my thought process to find stuff. 

4. Have a plan for your writing time. What is your goal for this session? Is it to write a whole chapter? A certain number of words? To work on one specific scene? Setting a goal for yourself, no matter how small, will keep you on track, and when you finish your goal, you’ll have a sense of accomplishment that will keep you wanting to continue working on the project. Don’t feel like you need to write for hours. Take the first draft in small doses. My typical writing goal each day is to write ½ of a chapter. My books are quite long, and my chapters can sometimes be 15+ pages, so I break up my chapters into smaller sections so I don’t get exhausted or burnt out, but I also am willing to break my plan/goal if I have more to write, or I’m really struggling that day.

5. Set a timer. Unless you are someone who can write and write for hours undisturbed, it’s probably a good idea to set a timer. There’s a method called Pomodoro where you set a timer for 25 minutes and write that entire time. When the timer goes off, you take a break for 5-15 minutes to get up, move around, grab things, then you return for another 25 minute writing sprint. You can do this for a set amount of time every day, like an hour or two, or you can do it the entire day. This method helps you not get bored or tired of writing. It’s good to give yourself a brain break, because drafting can be exceptionally exhausting. But of course, if you’re in the zone, keep going! 

6. Give yourself grace. As I said before, most of what you write in the first draft will be garbage. This includes me, by the way. A book doesn’t come to life until somewhere in your editing process, so don’t stress if you hate it. My mantra is always “I can make it better later.” Writing a book is a long process with many stages, so the most important thing for me to do is forgive my terrible writing in Draft #1 and get the bones down so I can flesh out later and write all those magical lines. I genuinely despise writing first drafts. I think it’s the hardest part of the process.

7. Schedule time to write. If you’re like me and have other jobs, then finding time to write can be difficult. Add kids on to that, and it can feel like you have zero time at all to write. I approach writing like it’s another one of my jobs. Now, at this point in my career, it IS one of my main forms of employment, but until you’re published, it’s hard to see it that way. When I was writing “Butcher,” my debut novel, I treated writing like it was already my job. It wasn’t a hobby or something I was merely “trying out.” I dedicated myself to it, and scheduled writing time in my day after work hours. I don’t have kids, so my evenings belong only to me, which makes things much easier, of course. I encourage you to set aside time to write, even if it’s only a half hour each day. Maybe it’s after the kids go to bed at 9pm, or bright & early at 6am, or on your lunch break. 

8. Take breaks. If you’re feeling mentally drained, or the ideas aren’t coming, put the project away for a few days. After every single one of my drafts & edits, I always take a few days off before starting the next round. It’s good to come into writing with a clear head and fresh ideas. When you go on vacation, don’t write at all, just observe the world around you (I need to heed my own advice here). Some of my best ideas come when I’m “on a break” from writing, and then I get excited to get back to the project.

9. Remember your “why.” When you get lost in drafting, or you’re frustrated, remember why you decided to write this project in the first place. What made you passionate about this story and these characters? If you can’t come up with a strong “why,” perhaps it isn’t the right project for you. Maybe you need to go back to the drawing board. But oftentimes, thinking about your “why” can refuel and reset you. 

Drafting is hard. It’s stressful. It’s time consuming. It can feel like you’re ramming your head into a brick wall. But trust me–all that hard work and brain whirring is worth it when you finally get to write those two special words, “the end.”