If you were to interview all the prolific authors in the world, you’d undoubtedly discover that no two writers have the same daily routine. There are “last minute” authors, who work best under pressure and love plowing through a manuscript when a deadline is looming just ahead. On the contrary, many writers like to approach a new novel from a much slower pace, perfecting one page at a time over the course of six to eight months or longer. Regardless of what your personal writing style happens to be, all authors have one thing in common: they must complete a first draft.
Writing a first draft can be a daunting process. In this post, you’ll find seven steps to take to make things go as smoothly as possible. There’s no reason that the beginning writing phases must feel overwhelming. By putting some of these tips into practice, you can minimize stress and create a memorable experience.
Prepare your writing space before starting a first draft
Before tackling a first draft, choose the room or space where writing will take place. Whether it’s indoors or outside, at home or someplace else, make sure the environment is clean and relatively quiet (although many people say they think better with music playing in the background) and pleasant. Perhaps light a candle or use an essential oil diffuser to fill your writing space with an invigorating or soothing scent.
Make sure you have a comfortable place to sit; after all, you’ll be spending hours there. You can write the old-fashioned way with pencil and paper or type on a computer or iPad. Whichever you choose, be sure to prep well, such as having extra writing utensils and pads of paper on hand, as well as having software in place and sufficient knowledge on how to use it.
The next steps are essential
You might enjoy the first draft process if you implement these tips as well:
- Sit down and write every day, even if you don’t have the whole story planned yet.
- Create a file for taking notes about characters, places, glossary, historical elements, and more.
- Resist the urge to edit before your first draft is complete.
- It’s okay to set up a writing schedule but don’t be a slave to it—go at your own pace.
- Trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to deviate from your plan if you feel unexpected changes are needed.
- Enjoy the process—the more you enjoy writing, the more readers will enjoy your stories.
Keep in mind that the first draft is not a final copy. Try to let the process unfold naturally and go where your story takes you.
