Here's a Trick For Writing Your First Draft

The hardest part of writing a first draft is sometimes just getting down those first few words on the page, but you know you have to tell your story. 

Letting go of the fear and stepping headfirst off the cliff into the icy water below. 

But what if you can't make yourself take that first step regardless of how afraid you are?

Then you'll never make it as a writer because you won't be a writer. Sorry, but it's kinda in the job description. Sure writers are notorious for being the last ones to start writing and we always find some excuse to put it off for as long as we can, but when it comes down to it we do write - eventually. 

Tackling The Blank Page 

When you sit in your writing space staring at a blank page it can often feel like it's staring back - mocking you - judging you - telling you that your story isn't good enough to imprint it on its skin. If this is happening to you - you might need to seek help from a professional - but if just looking at a blank page starts to fill you with dread then just diving in is the best thing that you can do. 

A first draft doesn't have to make sense, heck it doesn't even really have to be a draft. 

I know some writers who call their first draft a zero draft because it's nothing but them dumping everything they know about their story onto the page. It doesn't have to be in order, it doesn't even have to really make sense. In some cases, almost 90% of what is written will be highlighted and deleted or left behind.

 That 10% though? It'll be enough to start that first draft with a solid foundation you can build on to map your story from beginning to end.

I also have to ask - are you really struggling to start your novel? Or are you just procrastinating because as soon as you start you know that you won't be able to stop? 

If that's the case I hope you see this as a call out to get off (on?) your butt and start writing. 

You need to stop letting the blank page win. Dive into your novel and just begin. 

It doesn't matter if you start with the beginning, the end, or start somewhere in the middle. You can always go back and add in those parts later. 

Stop procrastination, trust the process and yourself, and just dive in. 

Don't let the blank page win. 

Go write. 

With love, 

B.K. xo xo

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