Getting Through Your First Draft
Writing a story can be so much fun, but it’s easy to lose your motivation half way through. So how can you keep yourself going the whole way through you first draft like a pro? Short answer- you can’t. Even pros don’t have motivation 100% of the time. But there are steps you can take to help keep yourself moving enough to get through it!
1) This seems obvious, but remember your original motivation. Your “why”. Why are you telling this story in the first place? What do you want your readers to get from it? Do you have a point to make, a crazy story to tell, an opinion to share, or a ship you just KNOW should’ve gotten more time in the canon? Let yourself feel that burning passion again! Only you can tell this story right!
2) Remember, it’s ok to jump from idea to idea a little bit. If you need to step back for a minute and look at something new to clear your head, that’s ok! Just don’t let it become a trend to half finish everything you start. Eventually you have to complete one.
3) Your theme is not rock solid in draft one. IT’s good to know that your theme is, because it will help you come up with scenes and dialogue as you progress. But if you get into the middle and realize that another theme is coming out better, don’t be afraid to shift gears a little! Your characters will tell you what they want to say, trust me.
4) Know your audience. Is it children, teens, young adults, middle aged women, boys, girls? Even if your audience is just you, knowing who you want to aim your story at will help immensely.
5) Plot is a must have, and conflict=change. If you don’t have a plot with conflict, you don’t have a story to tell. Conflict can be internal or external, and it’s important to find a good balance between both. Not all conflict has to be action. Familiarize yourself with the different kinds of conflict story can have.
6) Foster a good creative enviroment. Find a good place in your house (or out of your house) that lacks distractions where you can really focus on your story. Try to come to this place often to write so you can get a mental association with it. Purchase some scented candles to make you feel good. Create a playlist of music your associate with your story. Make a mood-board of things that remind you of your stories or characters. The muse does not come without being called, so you have to call it.
7) You cannot write a book unless you take the time to write a book. Set aside a portion of time every day day, or even just a couple times a week, to work on your WIP. Even just 5 minutes before you go to sleep at night will do.
8) You don’t have to make thousands of words of progress for it to count as writing. Two chapters counts, two paragraphs count, two lines count. As long as you had more than when you opened your doc, you’ve succeeded!
εїз Happy Writing, Creatively Inclined Minds εїз
