Dear aspiring writers, NaNoWriMo just ending. By the way, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. It happens every year in November. The whole world—well, more like a majority of the writing community around the world gathers around for 30 days and sprints to write a rough draft of 50, 000 words. Mind you, this is a feat. Since each writer has his or her own pace of writing. You have the super-fast writers who can spurt 50k words in ten days no sweat. And the super-slow ones who write a chapter per month. Writing is a personal journey, you should take it at your own rhythm.
But what about that first draft?
The most difficult thing about writing is sitting down and writing. In an era filled with distraction, finding time to sit down in a quiet place with our thoughts is hard. Social media, Netflix and other screen flashing entertainment are there to keep us from achieving our soul’s desire.
It is advised to cut all sorts of distractions and isolate yourself from yelling family members and that dreaded cellphone, your fingers are itching to grab. Allocate a specific period of time, tell partners and people around you, you need one or two hours alone in peace to write that novel. If you don’t have understanding people around you, find a quiet place in a corner of a coffee shop or a library. Carry a notebook to scribble your ideas. If you want to do it you will find a way to make time.
Do I have to write in order?
If you are an outliner, nope. If you are a pantser, still no. You can write in any order you want. If you want to write the ending first, by all means, do it. If you want to write a particular scene first because it means more to you, do it. If you find yourself hating a part of the story, it drags on, and you just want to get over with it— remember the reader will feel the same way when reading it. Add a note about that scene for future edits and move to the next scene. Remember the first draft is just about getting the rough of the story down. Keep writing you can do revisions later. Write. Write that damn thing. Writing with a plan or direction is a good thing for later revision. You will thank your past self when you’re not pulling your hair off.
When I finish my first draft is my story done?
Dear aspiring writers, the moment you write those two epic little words ‘The End’, you should pat yourself on the back. Not every story gets completed. On the millions of manuscripts out there a big chunk never gets finished. This is sad news. Yes. The worst is those unfinished works die, disappear, and never reach the readers’ eyes. You should be happy you even reached this milestone in your writing journey.
And NO, this is not the finished version of your book your readers will hold in their hands. Consider a rough draft as raw clay. It will need work to be a magnificent pot with dazzling colors. For now, it’s full of plotholes and other structural errors.
Depending on your writing skills it can take from 4 to 15 different drafts before a story is publishable. So, patience little padawan. Your time will come. Practice. Learn. Fail. Get back up and start all over again.
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