Writing that First Draft

/ D. Wallace Peach

Greetings, Storytellers. Diana here with NaNoWriMo looming on the horizon. Whether you’re participating in the writing marathon or not, I thought I’d give you a bit of a pep talk about writing first drafts. Gather around, and I’ll try not to scare you!

Just imagine…

Your fingertips rest on the keyboard. Your creative vision has taken shape: an outline, a storyboard, scribbles on a notepad, or a series of scenes thumping around inside your head.

The terrain of a new world sprawls before you, rife with civilization. Characters chatter, love, and battle. They vie for your attention, eager to tell their stories and shape their lives. That first draft is a molten caldron of mystery, uncontainable, and ready to erupt. It’s a flawed, untamed, tainted, wonderful, intense piece of art.

troll enwikipediaorg3

A first draft has nothing to do with perfection.

It’s about the story. It isn’t the time to edit, to labor over weak verbs, revisit dialog, or craft flowing descriptions. You’ve spent weeks fleshing out your vision; it’s time to put it to work and start spinning your tale. Get the story out of your skin. Just write.

A few sections of that first draft will feel inspired and flow from your fingertips. Other parts will require saintly patience and willpower as you drag them like whining teenagers across your page. Your notes or outline will help you persist through those hair-pulling hours, because with a path, there’s no writer’s block. No matter how painful, you know where you have to go.

Remember that a creative plan, by nature, is fluid; expect it to morph, flex, and grow. Your first draft is a constant play between an evolving story and the written page. Your characters continue to surprise you, plots deepen, new scenes appear, dialog ripples off in unexpected directions. At the same time, you’re massaging your plan, changing what is coming based on unforeseen tangles and turns. This marvelous, messy, raw creation is your foray into new territory.

Keep a pen and paper handy for inspiration. You’ll need those follow-up notes for later drafts when you’re changing scenes, hinting at backstories, placing clues, and tying up loose ends. That treasure trove of details will keep your plot rational and cohesive when you get to the end. For now, get the story down on paper.

I never share my first drafts with anyone. They’re too ugly. They’re warty little trolls blinking in the sunlight. They need baths and haircuts, a visit to the dentist, and a decent meal. But I love them, and hope they’re princes when I get them cleaned up.

Whether you’re participating in NaNoWriMo this year or taking a pass, if you’re writing a first draft, enjoy the adventure.

Happy Writing!

(All images are of paintings by John Bauer, Creative Commons, Public Domain).

138 thoughts on “Writing that First Draft”

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  8. Oh man woman. You said to me exactly what I needed to hear. The title of your post caught my eye straight away. I’ve been battling writing a book of my own based of an idea from my husband. When I first started it just took off and came right out of me, and I even added my own lil twist of humor/sarcasm as the narrorator. Making it unique as all individuals are. I was almost 25 chapters in (all still very much a draft) when i stopped one day and re-read every sentence on every line throughout the entirety of what I had written so far. Guess what? I scrapped it, all of it. I didn’t literally throw it away incase i needed to go back to pluck pieces from it here and there. Trying to make the rewrite better than what I’d already written. Honestly this teen I’m dealing with is acting up a lil worse than my actual chidren before they grew up and turned into adults on me. LOL. Just like those that commented above, I too edit as I go. Not every single time tho. I’ll have my 22 year old son read over it and have him be sure to point out any mistakes and give me constructive critisism on something I may need to change or it could be as simple as rewording a paragraph. I’ve never had problems writing anything in my life, including short stories, creative poetry or even a simple short story when back in high school when the teachers would have several sentence prompts to get you started. I want my book to catch readers from the prologue. I love getting lucky and finding one to read for myself and I end up not being able to put it down until I’m finished with the whole thing. Thanks for sharing that tid bit of help with us out here struggling. Very much appreciated and now I think I know which direction I’m goning to head in. Trust and believe if I need help or get stuck, would it be ok with you if I were to reach out to you needing advice?

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    • I’m so glad the advice was helpful. All authors find their own way through a first draft, but sometimes they can get stuck in the editing loop, or they judge themselves unfairly, thinking that a first draft should be more polished. I’m glad you didn’t delete yours! Phew! Keep going! And Story Empire has tons of great advice on every aspect of writing. Browse the categories for whatever your looking for. There are some great posts on editing when you get to that point. For now…. get that first draft done! 😀 Happy Writing!

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  9. Glorious post here Wallace. I love it and the way you describe the essence of using first drafts and also I like what you said about art that it is an inspiration, it is not perfect but what counts is the story at the end of the day. I have to say inspiration is all around us, I also use a pen and paper to jot down my ideas and what inspires me, then shuffle the idea around, think about it and then when I am satisfied, I write the blog , proofread before sending publish then yeah, it’s good to go and to be read by the audience💯💯

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  10. Ah thanks for that. Although it doesn’t say it in my blogs yet, I’m a writer and I have issues with getting my butt up and writing because I’m scared it won’t be good, but you’re right. The first draft is an ugly troll. It’s after the story is written that you have to shape it into the prince it’s meant to be.

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    • I’m so glad this was helpful, Alli. Oh, please get your butt up and start writing. Ha ha. Our first drafts aren’t supposed to be pretty at all. It’s the many drafts coming after the first that bring a story to life and polish it up. Even those writers who edit as they go, aren’t ending up with a prince until many drafts later. Happy Writing!

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      • It’s hard when you feel blocked, and I don’t know many authors who haven’t felt that way. I FORCE myself to write through those moments even if just for an hour, even though I know what I’m writing is crap. Lol. That usually loosens things up a bit. But there are a lot of ideas on the internet for breaking through writer’s block if you need them. Enjoy your little troll, my friend.

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  12. Loved the pics in this post, Diana. In many ways, they remind me of the work of Brian Froud and the illustrated novels I used to collect in the 80s.

    I guess every author does a first draft in some manner of speaking. I edit (and re-edit) each scene and chapter as I write, but those tweaks do mean I’m refining and polishing before I share with my critique partners. In that sense I do have a first draft that isn’t seen by other eyes before I’ve cleaned it up.

    I never blast through writing a novel start to finish (unless it’s during NaNoWriMo) without careful editing of each scene as it’s created, but there is always the blank slate that beckons raw ideas. Part of the thrill of creating is the initial roughness that beckons ideas to spill out like tumbleweeds.

    Wonderful post!

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    • Froud’s (and Rackham’s) illustrations are very much the same. I was going to use some of them, but decided to keep it simple and stick with Bauer. I have a special love for intricate fairytale illustrations going back to my childhood. I think you’ll find that most people who’ve commented do some editing as they go, and I’m included in that number, but Nano’s a good time to experiment with just writing. I’ve found that the final novel, for me, feels the same either way, so it’s often a matter of how much time I have for a first draft. And I love your last point. Whatever method draws out and deepens the story, the better. Happy Writing!

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  13. I loved this post, and the pictures. At first glance, I thought the first picture was three witches and Macbeth immediately came to mind. Just shows how my twisted mind thinks.

    Planning is not a strong suit of mine, but I do create a sparce outline, peppered with some must have items. As for the first draft, I have a bad habit of editing as I go. Not that the first draft is ready for prime time, or even coming out of the basement, but rather I simply can’t stop myself.

    I did NANO once, and will at some point do it again, but not this year. November is a rough month with Thanksgiving, and my schedule is packed with so much, I don’t have the time to devote to it, and I consider it failing if I don’t finish.

    Your descriptions in this post are perfect. I laughed as I pictured them.

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    • I love Bauer’s art, Michele, and it seemed to fit well with the post. A sparse outline with some must-haves is perfect if it works for you. I start much the same way and add little bits over time as things start to gel in my head. It makes the writing easier for me to have a plan.

      You might notice from the comments that there are more “edit as you go” writers than otherwise. I do that too, though I’m trying really hard to avoid getting bogged down in changes that can wait for later. First drafts are hard, and I like to get them Done!

      I’m not participating in Nano either this year, but I strongly believe that achieving the word count isn’t necessary to enjoying or winning. I just love the idea of gifting myself with a whole month of focused writing. It honors our passion. Hmmm. Maybe a post for next October. 🙂 Thanks so much for the visit. Happy Writing!

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  15. I’ve taken on a lot of projects at the moment but I’m still going to embrace the wild ride of NaNo. You’ve written so beautifully about it here. If you need another person to follow there you can find me at bridgettetales. ❤️

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    • Thanks so much for stopping by, Bridgette. I would definitely follow along with you, but I’m not doing Nano this year. I’m still touring with a book and don’t have anything ready to dive into. Have tons of fun. And don’t worry too much about the final word count. I think everyone who signs up and writes more than they would have otherwise is a winner. 😀 Happy Writing.

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      • Maybe next year! I’ve done NaNo the last three years but this is the first time I’m already doing a lot of other writing projects at the same time. I’m hoping I can still be successful. I get wildly competitive with myself and want all the badges!

        By the way, I ordered your book today. It looks incredible. I can’t wait to read it!

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  18. Entertaining as well as informative. Loved the pictures. As you suggest, in a first draft, all I try to do is get the story written. I correct nothing, lol- except when it is almost indecipherable. This usually means that I spend more time fixing and perfecting than I ever did writing the damn story. Haruumph.

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    • Yeah. Edit as you go saves a little time on draft two, but I find draft one the hardest, so getting it done is always a huge relief. The rest isn’t quite so grueling… or is it? Lol. I love how we’re all different. Thanks again for the comment and share. 😀

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    • Lot’s of edit as you go writers have been chiming in, Sean, as you noticed. I’ve been working on doing less of that and just making notes in the text so I can keep going. First drafts are the hardest part of a book for me, and it takes intense concentration and huge blocks of time, so pushing through it is essential before I start to wilt. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and adding to the conversation. Happy Writing!

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  21. I’ve heard this sound advice before. I’m not going to be a participant because I prefer to go at a slow, steady pace rather than taking the giant plunge. One of the beautiful aspects of writing is there are many different ways for people to approach it. Do you typically participate in NaNoWriMo, Diana?

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    • I seem to participate every other year or so, Pete. A WIP has to be at the right point for me with all the prework done including an outline, character bios, and world building. That way I can just write away. Even if I’m not participating, I still use Nano as an excuse for hiding in my writing room and getting some focused work done. 🙂 THanks for the visit and I hope you enjoy a November full of writing time.

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  23. Hemingway famously wrote in a letter to an aspiring writer, “Don’t get discouraged because there’s a lot of mechanical work to writing. There is, and you can’t get out of it. I rewrote the first part of A Farewell to Arms at least fifty times. You’ve got to work it over. The first draft of anything is shit. When you first start to write you get all the kick and the reader gets none, but after you learn to work it’s your object to convey everything to the reader so that he remembers it not as a story he had read but something that happened to himself.”

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    • What a great quote, Andrew. And I’m not surprised that Hemingway put in all those drafts, while in the end, his writing looks effortless. What a talent. It seems that inspiration gives us the story – draft one. But the challenging mechanics of writing provides the reader with an experience – drafts two through fifty. Thanks for the wonderful comment. Happy Writing.

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  24. Excellent advice, Diana. First drafts can indeed be ugly little critters. But it’s in that muck and ooze where stories are conceived and prepared for life in the real world. Thank you for sharing your experiences and talents here.

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  25. Great post, Diana. I admit that I often edit as I go. I’m a pantser, so my stories and characters often take me in a different direction. But getting that first draft completed – edits or not – is essential.

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    • Cool comment, Denise. I find first drafts stressful, but I do love the creativity. You’re right that finding a way around a roadblock is a thrill. What a process, huh? Thanks so much for adding to the conversation. Happy Writing!

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  29. I love these ideas, Diana. They fit how I write–surrounding by scenes and ideas that need a temporal home. Suggestions for writing a trilogy? I suppose I need to find a high point to end each book with a goal that is satisfactorily resolved in each book?

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    • Yes, yes, and yes, Jacqui. Lol. I’m going to do a series here on Endings next, including the endings of books in serials and series. The general idea is to do just as you said – for each book resolve a major plotline/conflict for a satisfactory sense of closure, but leave a couple dangling, including one over-arching goal that doesn’t resolve until the end. Enjoy the process, my friend. You have a big job ahead of you. ❤

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  30. Loved this, Diana! I always find the first chapters like dragging those whining teenagers and I’ve learned to just write until things settle into a flow. Once that happens, I edit the previous day’s work, like Liz, to help me back into the moment and don’t fret if the word I’m looking for is still out of reach or the paragraph remains clumsy after a few attempts to bring it into order . The illustrations here are beautiful, and from this day forth I will consider my first drafts as those warty little trolls. (To be completely honest, I find those trolls more appealing than the prince. Perhaps, as Harmony says, you can edit out too much of the rugged beauty of your creation if you over-obsess.) A great post and one that’s made me think – and smile! ♥♥

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    • I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Trish. I also, quite often, reread my previous drafted section in order to get into the flow, but not during Nano, or when I’m writing in little chunks of time (like right now). It’s been interesting to experiment with both methods, and though different, they both seem to work. And enjoy your little trolls as they take shape. I love that image of our first drafts too. They should be appreciated for all their potential for magic. Hugs, my friend, and Happy Writing!

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  32. Wonderful post, Diana. Your advice and examples are inspirational. I love your poetic do’s and don’ts, and hopefully, I’ve stored them deep within for my next writing adventures. 😊

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  33. I have been preaching for years not to let others read first drafts. I was so glad to see you repeat it here. Can’t tell you how many stories and writers have gone down in flames because someone they respect told them the story sucked in its rough form. Your post was immaculate and very inspiring, Diana. Thanks.

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  34. I absolutely love this, Diana. And the graphics. You put together such a visceral and powerful post. Thank you.

    And I will now forever think of my first drafts as warty little trolls that I love despite them not being ready to introduce to the world without a shower and a trip to the dentist (among various other things).

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  37. Brilliant imagery, Diana! Love it. I also wholeheartedly love the advice of just getting the story down on paper. I used to edit to death as I wrote, and eventually realised I killed the creative flow that way. Now, I just write. The kicking-and-screaming editing can come later. Thanks for sharing. Hugs 💕🙂

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    • Thanks so much for the comment, Harmony. I’m an edit as I go gal, but I’ve learned – partly through Nano – not to obsess as much as I used to and (jot notes) in the text rather than rewrite it. “The kicking-and-screaming editing can come later.” Lol. Perfect.

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  44. “I never share my first drafts with anyone. They’re too ugly. They’re warty little trolls blinking in the sunlight. They need baths and haircuts, a visit to the dentist, and a decent meal.” LOL! Love this, Diana! I feel the same.

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  45. Thank you for the inspiration, Diana. This is going to be my first nanowrimo ever. I hope to add the last 20k-word quarter of my ongoing novel, and 30k of the soon to come poetry book.
    Just like Robbie, I too cannot just write. I set a reasonable word target per session and once I reach it, I give it its first edit there and then, before moving on. Just the one edit.

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    • Thanks for dropping by, Jude. Congrats on trying your first Nano. One thing I learned is not to stress about the 50K words. If I don’t make it, I don’t make it. I’m still dedicating a month to my passion. Enjoy! (And I’m also an edit as I go writer, but during Nano, I’ve tried to curb that tendency a bit. Not easy!)

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  47. Ah, Diana, what a way with words you have. ‘Other parts will require saintly patience and willpower as you drag them like whining teenagers across your page.’ I can really relate to those whining teenagers. Of course, I never just write, I always edit as I go against everyone’s advice. I can’t help myself, I am OCD.

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    • I edit as I go too, Robbie. It’s so hard to resist. But during Nano, I really do try not to obsess (as is my tendency), and I’ll jot notes right in the text to return to later. As it is, it takes me hours and hours to make the daily count. Glad you enjoyed the post, my friend. I hope everything goes well today for your teen. Hugs to you both.

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      • Hi Diana, it does save us time down the line so its not all bad. I also take a long time to write so I am encouraged by your comment. I seem to take longer than many other writers. Not the best news today. I’ll share when I’ve gotten over it. Hugs.

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      • Yup, edit as we go makes the second draft a little easier, but we also might be editing something that we’ll decide to change by the time we get to the end. I’m also very very slow, so experimenting with plowing forward has helped me be a little less pokey with a first draft, which for me is the hardest part of writing.

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