Once you’ve reached the end of the first draft of your novel manuscript, it’s time to celebrate! This is a HUGE accomplishment, one that takes some writers decades to reach. You should celebrate! At this point, you should ignore how many steps of the writing process are yet to be worked through and take a break. For now, the bulk of the writing is done, and your brain needs some rest before making the shift into edit mode.
Silly image generated using AI. (The images just kept getting sillier the harder I tried.)
I know what you’re thinking: Wait, edit mode? But you said I was done!
Today’s message is a short one after we’ve spent several weeks covering the planning stage of the novel writing process. Now that we’ve covered the basics of writing a first draft of your novel, there’s only one thing left to say: sit down and do it! Start writing, and don’t stop until the end of your story is on the page!
Image generated using AI.
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National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is an annual creative writing challenge that takes place in November. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write a 50,000-word novel draft in just 30 days, from November 1st to November 30th. Participating in this activity is a great way to build and maintain momentum. Plus, if you can write 50,000 words of your own novel draft in one month, you will be well on your way to finishing your novel in months rather than years.
NaNoWriMo is open to anyone who wants to participate, regardless of writing experience or genre preference. Participants can register on the NaNoWriMo website and connect with other writers in their local community or online for support and encouragement. The site also offers a word count tracker that helps you see how many words you need to write each day to stay on track.
During the planning stage of the novel writing process, you probably did a lot of research into your topic while you generated ideas and plotted your story structure. But now that you’re in the drafting stage of the novel writing process, all that needs to stop.
While research was welcome during the planning stage of the writing process, it’s not a good idea to try to conduct research during the drafting stage. Image generated using artificial intelligence.
Stopping to do research during the drafting process of writing a novel can be a distraction and slow down your progress. Here are some reasons why you may want to avoid stopping to do research while drafting:
Writing and editing involve different cognitive processes that use different parts of the brain. When you write, you typically use your creative and imaginative processes, which are associated with the right side of the brain. This involves generating new ideas, making connections between concepts, and visualizing scenes and characters.
Writing a novel can be like putting a puzzle together without knowing what the final product is supposed to look like. Image generated using artificial intelligence.
On the other hand, editing involves a more analytical and critical thinking process, which is associated with the left side of the brain. This involves evaluating the structure, pacing, and clarity of your writing, checking for errors in grammar and punctuation, and refining your prose to make it more effective and engaging. Editing your work during the drafting stage of the novel writing process can be counterproductive for a few reasons:
Setting a writing schedule that you can stick to is important for making consistent progress on your writing projects. First, determine what time of day is your most productive time. Think about when you are most alert and focused. Some people prefer to write in the early morning, while others find that they are most productive in the afternoon or evening. I like to get my writing out of the way first thing because I know that otherwise I will find other things to do and never get around to writing. This is a great strategy for anyone who often finds themselves cleaning house when there is writing to be done. Once you identify your most productive time, try to schedule your writing sessions during that time.
Without a proper writing schedule in place, your time can seem to melt away without you ever accomplishing anything. Image generated using artificial intelligence.
However, be sure to set realistic goals. Determine how much time you realistically have available for writing each day or week. Then, set a goal that is achievable within that time frame. For example, if you only have 30 minutes each day to write, set a goal to write 250 words during that time. It is also essential to establish a consistent routine for when and where you will write. This can help you get into the habit of writing regularly and make it easier to stick to your schedule. Try to create a writing environment that is free from distractions and conducive to your creative process. Just don’t get too precious about it.
Momentum is crucial when writing a novel because it helps you to keep going and make progress. Writing a novel is a long and challenging process, and it can be easy to get discouraged or distracted along the way. Momentum helps you stay focused and motivated so you can keep making progress toward your goal of finishing the book. And that’s what this writing series is all about, isn’t it?
Momentum in the novel writing process is all about getting into that “flow state” where the words almost write themselves! Image generated using artificial intelligence.
When you have momentum, you are in the flow of writing, and the ideas and words tend to come more easily. You may find that you are able to write more quickly and efficiently when you have momentum, and that you are able to produce higher-quality writing as well. In addition, momentum can help you overcome the obstacles and challenges that inevitably arise during the writing process. For example, if you get stuck on a particular scene or chapter, having momentum can help you push through and keep writing, rather than giving up or getting discouraged.
Hopefully, your novel will have lots of “best parts,” but one of the most important parts of your novel will be the first chapter (also referred to as the “introduction” when discussing the basic steps of the writing process.) One of the most efficient and effective ways to write a five-paragraph essay is to write your three body paragraphs first and then write the introduction and conclusion paragraphs last. The same is often true when writing a novel.
It’s okay if your novel chapters don’t fit perfectly together in the first draft! Image generated using artificial intelligence.
The first chapter of a novel plays a crucial role in capturing the reader’s attention, introducing key elements of the story, and setting the stage for the narrative to come. It is the author’s opportunity to make a strong first impression and entice readers to delve further into the book. However, the author—you—often doesn’t know what the key elements of the story will be until after the majority of the first draft has been written. How can you possibly introduce those elements in your first chapter when you don’t know yet what they are?
Write on the World 