How to Survive your First Draft

Or in other words, things I wish other authors told me instead of just write 15min/day.

1. Perfectionism hinders creativity. Don’t overthink, just let the words flow. 
2. First drafts are a great time to experiment. Don’t be afraid of where your words take you, sometimes they’ll lead towards something unexpected. Other times, trial and error is part of the process. 
3. Get it on paper as fast as you can, as long as it stays fresh in your mind. 
4. It takes work, time, and consistency. Say it out loud: IT TAKES WORK, TIME, AND CONSISTENCY. 
5. Don’t get bogged down by the details. If you’re struggling to find the right word(s), write [insert XXX here] and keep going. That’s what editing is for. (Bear in mind though, this may or may not bite you in the a** later)
6. Join a writing group or create one — this is SO important. Just because you’re writing a novel independently, doesn’t mean you have to. Finding a writing community helps uplift and motivate you to keep going. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have another set of eyes on your work before submitting to agents/publishers.
7. Lock down an accountability partner–make sure you vet one out that aligns with your goals and intentions; check in weekly and hold each other accountable.
8. If meeting a word count goal fails, try setting an hourly goal, either by day or by week.
   • Use a productivity timer if you have to. (I like this one)
   • Download my free printable weekly writing goal tracker! (Attached below)
9. Make time for it, even if you have to squeeze in just 5 minutes here or 5 minutes there. Spending a few minutes brainstorming ideas is better than none at all.
10. Get inspired through other people’s work, whether it’s your fellow writing community or a new book you picked up. Either way, keep reading!
11. Be Kind to Yourself!! Sometimes things in life happen beyond your control, whether you suffer from chronic pain like me or something unexpected happens, it’s OK if you miss a few days, try again when you’re able. Same applies if you feel like you had a crap writing day, be kind to yourself, and try again tomorrow.

Good Luck & Happy Writing!

❤ rebeccanne

*Disclosure: there is one affiliated link to a product I love and highly recommend as a tool for time management.*