Congratulations. You’ve decided to write a book!
Whether you’ve plotted out the storyline or you’re writing it by the seat of your pants, you’re going to spend a lot of time in front of your computer typing. By the time you’ve finished, you’re probably going to hate your book. In fact, that will happen long before you finish.
Most people who begin writing a book will never finish it. They have a wonderful plot, dynamic characters, and a fantastic world, but the time-consuming effort to get their ideas onto paper will become so overwhelming that they just quit.
As a published author—both indie and traditional—I can completely relate to that feeling. The longest it has taken me to finish the first draft of a novel is 15 months. The shortest is four months.
I’ve learned quite a bit about how to write effectively and efficiently so I can power through and get the first draft of my manuscript completed.
I’d like to share four tips with you on how you can reach your goal of writing a book.
Set a Daily Goal
One of the best ways to power through your first draft is to set a daily writing goal for a minimum number of words you want to write.
The most difficult part of writing, for me, is starting on a daily basis. I tend to sit down at my laptop, but then I check Facebook, look at the news, see if the YouTube channels I follow have any new videos… You get the idea.
But I’ve found that if I can start writing and get 300 words, then I’m in a good rhythm by that point and can keep going to get quite a lot more. There are some days when I’ve been able to get over 3,000 words in one session!
Having a minimum daily goal will get you closer each day to finishing your rough draft.
Find a Group
The most effective way I have found to meet that daily goal is to find a “sprinting” group. These can be found in Facebook groups, on Discord, and other virtual social media platforms. If you are a member of LDSPMA, you can see if other members are already sprinting.
Here’s how sprinting works: At an agreed-upon time, writers get together virtually (or in person, for some groups). I personally prefer Facebook Messenger group chats, but some groups will use Discord or Zoom.
One person sets a timer for a set amount of time (usually 10 to 15 minutes). Everyone begins and writes for the entire time. The person timing lets everyone know when the buzzer has gone off, and everyone shares their word count for that time.
After a five-minute break, the timer is set again. You can sprint for just one round, or you can do four or five rounds! It all depends on how you and your group choose to do it.
I like sprinting because not only does it force me to write for a certain amount of time, but I am held accountable for what I do during that time. Even if you don’t want to sprint, having a group of writers to belong to will keep you accountable.
Don’t Self-Edit While Drafting
Sometimes your sprinting word count can be low if you are self-editing as you write. In fact, one of the biggest mistakes people make as they try to write a book is to edit themselves as they go along.
Don’t do that!
Of course, if you have a typo, you can take a moment to fix it, but don’t get caught in the trap of rewriting entire scenes that you don’t like.
Just. Keep. Writing.
Whether you’re sprinting, trying to finish a chapter on your own, or writing new scenes, just keep going! Hold on to that scene; don’t try to fix it or make it perfect right now.
That’s what editing is for! You’ll never finish your first draft if you get stuck on one scene or one chapter, trying to make it “just right.”
Use ChatGPT or Another AI
Sometimes as you’re writing, you’ll hit writer’s block. That happens to me quite regularly, actually. When that happens, I turn to ChatGPT. Now, I want to be clear: I do not use AI to write my books for me. At all. But I will use it as a way to get me past my writer’s block by triggering my imagination.
For example, if I need to write a letter from a character to her aunt, and I have no idea what kinds of “fluffy” things to fill it with so I don’t information-dump, then I will ask ChatGPT to write a letter.
Now, these snippets are not going in my book. Honestly, they’re usually terrible, but even if they were any good, they wouldn’t be in my voice or style of writing. Instead, I use them as a springboard. There might be one line or a topic that will catapult me into an ocean of ideas. Something as simple as “While at the inn on our journey, we met the most intriguing man…” will open up a host of ideas for the letter my character is writing to her aunt.
I know that ChatGPT (and other AI programs) are a bit of a hot topic right now, which is why I only use it as a way to get past my writer’s block. It’s not much different than asking your writing group or texting your mom and asking, “What kinds of things could this character write to her aunt in a letter?” and getting ideas from them.
If you feel uncomfortable with that idea, find a group of people (friends, other writers, family) you can ask these questions. It will serve the same purpose of getting your creative juices flowing.
You Can Get Your First Draft Done!
These four tips are how I am able to write several novels in a year.
Most people get stuck on their first draft because they want to make it “perfect” or “just right.”
Don’t let that be you—just write! Before you know it, you’ll have your first draft completed. Then you can begin to fine-tune it and turn it into what you want it to be.
You can power through and get your first draft done, which means you’ve written a book! It’s not edited yet, but as soon as you write “the end,” you’ve written a book.
And it’s an amazing feeling.
Thank you for the ideas on getting started and traps not to fall into.
I’ve been threatening to write a book for years, a self help guide for when you move house, but it’s never happened ! Now I have an idea for a short story and for another non fiction book.
I will do it, may take forever and will never be good enough to publish but it will at least be a goal avhieved.
Judy