Getting that first draft finished

BY LESLEY TAYLOR

Every writer will tell you how difficult it is to write, period. For me, the challenge was getting a first draft written. I found every excuse in the book not to sit down and write. And when I did sit down at my computer, there was always something to distract me—planning dinner, taking the dog out for a walk, checking in with an elderly friend … the excuses were endless. I also suffered from self-doubt. Someone was going to read my writing, so it had better be perfect.

I ended up in the trap of writing and rewriting the first few chapters. What finally helped me get the first draft of my novel finished was joining the National Novel Writing Month challenge, also known as NaNoWriMo or NaNo (nanowrimo.org). While this challenge is focused on November, the experience taught me valuable lessons about bringing your first draft to the finish line that can be applied at any time of year.

Preparing to write

Long before sitting down to write my first draft, I created character profiles using a worksheet that I found on blog.reedsy.com/character-profile. Creating a profile for each character was onerous and time consuming, but once I gave the characters identities, they came to life and made my work easier. I also came up with a long list of possible scenes, a setting, a plot, and a couple of subplots. Doing this preparatory work helped ensure that I had a solid base of ideas for my draft.

Committing to the challenge

I started with two main goals: write fifty thousand words in thirty days and add to my word count every single day. This created some pressure that basically made it impossible to go back and edit the work I had already written.

NaNo taught me to commit to a daily word count. At the end of each day, I logged onto the NaNo website and added to my total. Some days I was at par or over, and on other days I struggled to write much of anything at all. But I inched along, and it was motivating to see my total number of words grow as the month progressed.

Writing a bad first draft is okay

Early in the process, something interesting happened. I was so focused on writing and adding to my word count that I didn’t think about the need to edit. I did re-read what I had written every few days, and sometimes I made a few notes, but I carried on. Not only was it okay to write badly, but it was expected. One tactic I tried at the suggestion of a fellow NaNo writer was to leave a blank line whenever I got stuck on a sentence, like this: _____________. I could keep going and fill in that sentence later. By not pressuring myself to write a “perfect” first draft, I freed myself to continue moving forward, knowing that I would have a chance to return and revise later.

Checking unrealistic expectations

At the start of my thirty-day challenge, my plan was to get up early and write for two or three hours until I had finished my daily word count. This worked for a few days, and then life intervened and other things took me away from my computer. On those days, I found myself writing throughout the day and sometimes into the evening—still finding a way to get my writing done, even if it wasn’t according to my original plan.

What I’ve learned from listening to writers talk about their experiences is that writing is hard work whether you are a seasoned author or just starting out. No wonder I found it difficult to sit down and write day after day! As the days passed, I found my back aching from being hunched over my computer. I took breaks, booked a massage, and kept going.

Enjoy the surprises!

It only took me a few days to use all of the scenes that I had prepared, and then there was nothing left to do but dive into my writing as I began to rely more and more on my imagination. Also, when I started out, I had profiles for thirteen characters. In the middle of the book, another character introduced himself to me and became a pivotal part of the story. No matter how much you prepare, enjoying the surprises of the creative process can help motivate you to keep going.

Finding your motivation External rewards like the ones offered by NaNo motivated me in the beginning. By adding my daily word count to my profile page, I achieved milestones for the number of days I had been writing as well as certain word counts. As the month progressed, my motivation changed. Instead of being solely motivated by the rewards, I became motivated by the story I was creating and keen to discover where it would end. We are all motivated by different things, so find what works best for you. Marking your milestones is a simple way of finding motivation in your own progress.

Accountability

In addition to joining NaNo, I asked five friends to be my accountability group. I checked in with them every few days, and they in turn provided words of support and encouragement. Now that NaNo is over, I’ve asked them if they would continue as I work toward my next goal, which is extending my draft to eighty thousand words.

Success!

Initially I had two goals: write fifty thousand words and write daily. Despite not hitting the fifty-thousandword mark, I did write every day and I accomplished something I had wanted to do for years. I wrote the first draft of a novel. A messy draft full of plot holes and bad writing, but it’s a start. That’s okay; I got it done!

Creating your own challenge

I found being part of the NaNo community worked for me, and you may be interested in joining their camps in April or July. Regardless of when or how you’re tackling your first draft, I hope some of these learnings help you get to the end without getting stuck in the first few chapters. I did it, and you can too.

Lesley Taylor enjoyed a successful career in health care. She has also worked as a management consultant, college instructor and a freelance writer. She is currently working on her first novel. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors or cooking up something tasty in her kitchen.