Writing the first draft of your book can be a huge challenge. Where to begin? What to include, and what to leave out? There can be a number of questions in your mind, especially if you are working on your first book. Don’t worry, we’ll help you.
Let’s begin.
Writing the first draft is all about writing creatively. This is not the time for researching or editing. Just pick the pen and let it flow on paper. Or, use the keyboard to sow the seeds of your masterpiece on a screen. Most writers prefer the former, since you feel more creative in the old-fashioned way. But… to each, its own.
When you write your first draft, do nothing, and just write and write. Do not worry about your research, grammar, spellings, choice of words, plot consistency, etc. You can always come back (and you will come back) and make the edits. Think about a starting point (A) and finishing point (B), and find an interesting way to get from A to B. You may not get to B, and instead realise along the way that C is a more suitable destination. That’s fine too.
Write every idea that comes to your mind. If you come up with two sentences to explain one idea, keep both. You can edit one out later. If you come up with something too radical, keep that too. This is your time to test the limits of your creativity. Show yourself how far your thoughts can travel.
There are always questions around speed. How long should one take to finish the first draft? The answer is simple: it depends. Some writers do it in a matter of days, some weeks or months, some even more. The point is, even if you are going at a quick pace, that’s fine. There will be a round of edits and you will get every chance to fix words, sentences, or chapters that you don’t approve of. You can have as many rounds of edits as you want, and you can spend as much time on each round as you can spare. Sounds good?
So, what are you waiting for? Start writing your first draft, today!
Kalampedia 