There you are. Slogging away at a computer screen or, if you’re old school, staring at a sheet of paper willing the words to drip from the tip of your pen.
I feel your pain. I have been where you are many times; struggling to get to the end of a first draft. I am currently sneaking towards the finish line of a novel – by far the longest and most time consuming work of fiction I have ever attempted. So, I have compiled a list of my Top 5 Quick Tips to Finally Finish Your 1st Draft:
1. Make a Date – Set aside time each day to write. This might mean that you wake up an hour earlier in the morning or stay up a bit later at night to fit it in. It’s even better if you don’t have to sacrifice sleep and can make time in your day to prioritise your writing. Like all good things in life, it’s hard, but it will be worth it in the end. Make a schedule and stick to it. As J.K. Rowling says, “Be ruthless about protecting writing days.”
2. Set a Goal – My goal each day is to write a minimum of 500 words. Depending on whether my brain decides to cooperate, I can get this done in about an hour. If I feel like I have more gas in the tank, I keep going. You can set a word limit goal, a page goal, or even a time goal. If you’re just starting out, commit to writing for 1 hour. Regardless of how much you get through, it’s better than the 0 words you had at the beginning of the day.
3. Don’t Edit – This has been the hardest tip for me to follow. I have always been the writer who edits as she goes, polishing every sentence until it sparkles. The problem with this method is that you spend more time editing than you do writing. Loosen your grip on the reigns and allow yourself to simply write. Write without looking back! Just keep typing away. If you get to a bit where you’re stuck for a word or a description, put it in brackets and move forward. For example, “Sarai stood, staring blankly ahead at the [description of a temple], her emerald eyes squinting in the moonlight.” When you’ve finished the 1st draft, go back and fill in the brackets during editing. This method also works great if you’ve used a word a couple times close together and your brain refuses to come up with an alternative. The most important thing is to just stay in the writing flow.
4. Let Go of the Inner Critic – I am convinced that most creative writers quit before finishing their 1st draft because of the asshat in their head who spews a broken record of “negativity”. I am yet to meet one writer (or artist) who doesn’t have this nagging voice telling them how much they suck. The key is to practice letting go of your inner critic. Here’s how it works: Your mind says, “Why are you even bothering with this crap? You’ll never be published, no one will read this, they’ll all laugh at you, etc“. You say, “Thanks, mind.” and keep on writing. Each time the thoughts surface, acknowledge them for what they are, thoughts, and focus on the task at hand – finishing your 1st draft.
5. Move – Some days the inner critic is too loud or you’re just stuck. That’s normal. If you’re feeling like you can’t write another word or you don’t know where the story is going, allow yourself time to do something else. Go for a walk, wash the dishes, vacuum the floor, or (and this is my personal favourite) doodle. Simply move in some way so that your mind is free to potter around in the background uninhibited. Free writing and meditation are also fantastic ways to get your creative juices flowing again.
I hope that these quick tips will inspire you to write and cross the finish line on your 1st draft.
If you have any writing advice, I would love to hear it! Comment below or contact me direct.
Now, stop searching Google and get back to writing!