It’s all too easy to let a tricky draft sink to the bottom of your list, especially when new ideas and life commitments come calling.
Here’s the thing: every writer who’s completed a novel has faced the very same struggle and pushed through to success. You can too! Here’s how.
- Embracing the Muddy Middle
As the honeymoon excitement fades, making it to the middle of your first draft can feel like a feat in itself. But getting to the other side? That’s where writers are most likely to stumble.
The middle of your novel is where tension builds, characters deepen and stakes are more fully explored. Thinking of how to build on these aspects is a great way to fall back in love with your story.
Try considering how tools like motif, imagery, pace shifts and even pov switches can help to bring more depth to all three. Have fun and take risks! Being playful can jumpstart your momentum and renew your commitment to your work. (See our Jumpstart Your Novel course for more tips on getting started.)
- Set Realistic Goals and Deadlines
It’s easy to underestimate how long it can take to meet that wordcount. Manage your expectations by setting small, achievable goals that act as stepping stones.
Whether you prefer to track your progress through word count, pages or beats, find a system that works for you.
Having a deadline in mind can help keep you accountable, but for some writers, simply meeting word or time-based targets can be enough. Whichever way works for you, every step forward is progress, so don’t forget to celebrate milestones along the way!
- Writing the Last Chapter First
Some writers like to know exactly where they’re headed, even going so far as to outline a final chapter. This can be a useful exercise, leading you to the fun to be had as you raise the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ between start and finish.
It doesn’t have to be perfect – it doesn’t even have to be final. But having an idea of your destination can give you a clearer path forward. Knowing where your characters end up can help shape your journey.
- Planning Your Way Forward
Do you ever notice how going on a new journey often feels long and daunting, but the second time, when you have the landmarks and turnings in your head, it all feels a bit easier? The same goes for writing.
Having a road map, or better still an outline, can really help you put your foot on the gas.
If you already have an outline, try summing up what happens in speech or a short precise. As you think it through you’re likely to find the motivation to get it all down in type!
- Consistency is Key
Writing isn’t about waiting for inspiration to strike, it’s a commitment kept alive through repetition. Consider your project an act of devotion and it becomes a joy instead of a drag.
Read Elizabeth Gilbert’s ‘Big Magic’ to remind yourself what makes this work so very special.
If a daily routine isn’t realistic, schedule focused writing sprints on a table over your writing desk and tick every time you complete a session. Even short bursts will add up over time, and the self-discipline you accrue along the way will serve you well.
It is only through a human’s efforts that an idea can be escorted out of the ether and into the realm of the actual. – Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic
- Don’t look back
Editing as you go can kill your momentum. If you struggle with perfectionism, resist the urge to revise early chapters before finishing the draft.
Noticed an inconsistency? Spotted an issue with your characters? Make a note and keep writing. Your first draft isn’t meant to be polished – it just needs to exist! The real magic happens in revisions.
Monica Chakraverty recommends keeping a separate document for cut chunks of text or changes you want to track. When you are ready to edit, check here for Monica’s tips on self-editing.
- Manage expectations
Let go of the idea that your first draft needs to be flawless – it won’t be. It might not even be good. Even Booker prize winners wouldn’t want their first drafts aired in public.
Right now, the goal isn’t perfection – it’s completion! The sooner you accept this, the easier it will be to finish it. Allow yourself to write a bad draft. Done is better than perfect.
- Keep Your ‘Why’ in Mind
Why did you start this novel? What made you excited about this story in the first place? Write a few lines to remind yourself why this story matters to you, and the world. Use that reason as your anchor.
Try writing an elevator pitch, movie pitch or blurb to reignite your fire! Whichever you choose, keep it visible! You could pin it on a board or save it as wallpaper on your laptop.
- Find Creative Support
Writing can be lonely, but you don’t have to do it alone. Support – whether it’s a writing group, a mentor or an online community – can make all the difference. Share your struggles, celebrate your wins, and draw inspiration from other writers (or creatives!) when motivation wanes.
Sometimes, just knowing someone else is in the trenches with you is enough to keep going, but if you prefer a more connected means of support, try finding a buddy to share accountability with – updating one another on goals and achievements on a daily or weekly basis can work wonders for your motivation.
- Double Down for the Final Stretch
If you’ve ever done distance running, you’ll know how fatigue can hit so much harder when a finish line’s in sight. Writing a novel is a task of endurance, and getting to the end is the biggest test of your writerly mettle.
In his memoir ‘What I Talk About When I Talk About Running’ Haruki Murakami explains how his running habit taught him the endurance essential to his writing:Your draft doesn’t need to be perfect, you’ll be revisiting it plenty of times as you edit. For now, just get to that finish line!
Most of what I know about writing I’ve learned through running every day. These are practical, physical lessons. How much can I push myself? How much rest is appropriate—and how much is too much? – Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
- Let it Rest
Once you’ve typed ‘The End,’ it’ll be tempting to dive straight into edits. Step away. Give yourself time to recharge and gain a fresh perspective.
In his book ‘On Writing’, Stephen King recommends shutting your draft in a drawer for at least three weeks. A break, even a short one, will allow you to see your work through fresh eyes. Only then will you have the perspective needed to work up that exciting, share-ready second draft.
The Final Word
Finishing a first draft is a huge achievement – but as with all trials of endurance, it takes self-awareness and strategising to get there. Every published writer has stories of the obstacles they’ve overcome on their way to print – focus on progress rather than perfection, work consistently, and you too will make it!
