This section is for writers who have a great new idea, but are not quite sure how to go about writing a book. These are the things I focus on for different story drafts, how I find beta readers, and editors, right up to the final page of my book. Please note, this will not tell you HOW to write a book, but simply the objectives for each step of writing your book.
In each module, I will provide a list of potentially helpful resources, as well as software recommendations (if applicable) and what I use.
Resources: Scrivener | Literature & Latte (literatureandlatte.com)
Software: Scriveners, Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or something similar.
Scriveners: Scriveners is the writing software I use for all of my early drafts. It provides various spaces all in one software for you to keep track of the different aspects of your story. You can create different tabs for each character, location, plot idea, and any other aspect of your story. This is great for things such as terms of speech native to your world, or rules that apply to the world such as magic. It is great having them all in one location where you can easily reference certain facets of your story, allowing you to keep continuity throughout long books or series, while also keeping you working fast and being productive.
The first draft is often the hardest. You lack information, you are intimidated, and you can be hit with writer’s block constantly. But it’s also a fresh new world where you are welcome to explore whatever you desire.
When writing the first draft of a story, I only have one goal in mind. Get it done. Get it done fast, get it done poorly, it doesn’t matter. Always keep it going forward, and do not stop to edit. I find progress is the biggest motivator for people, and knowing that you’re always moving ahead in your story, you can feel like you’ve made progress and want to continue writing.
It’s also important to realize, no matter how much thought you’ve put into your story, you will only ever have a snapshot of your book. And that’s okay, it’s to be expected. While you are writing, new ideas will spring up, plot lines will reveal themselves, and suddenly you’ll see things begin unfolding with each word you write until you do have a full story in mind. This can be especially useful if you don’t understand your story well yet. Just put things down on paper and see where it leads you. This is just a first draft, it’s all about getting it done.
What I try to avoid, and where I find people can get bogged down, is going back and editing or rewriting earlier stuff while still doing their first draft. I did it too. It’s only natural, but it also feels more difficult to me. Now, I never go back when doing a first draft. Instead, I have a separate tab (or document depending on your software) called Draft 2 ideas and add-ins, and I jot down the ideas for my second draft when they pop up in the midst of my first draft. However, what is important to note, is when I come up with an idea, I DO begin implementing them as I move forward in my first draft. I simply pretend as if I had thought of that idea from the beginning. I do this because it just makes life easier in later drafts, because despite wanting to get your first draft done in a quick and messy fashion, the more accurate it is to the story you wish to tell, the easier your second draft will become.
In the end, the goal is to get a skeleton of your story on paper in whatever form you can. It doesn’t matter the length or quality of writing, it’s about getting it done!
