7 Things You Should Know About Writing The First Draft Of Your Book
There is a certain magic that happens when you commit to writing your first draft. It is the moment you step beyond dreaming about your book and begin the sacred act of creating it. But let’s be honest—writing that first draft can feel chaotic, emotional, exhilarating, and at times, wildly uncomfortable. And that’s exactly how it’s meant to be.
If you’re embarking on your writing journey (or recommitting to your manuscript), here are the truths that will keep you grounded, focused, and encouraged from the very first page to the final word.
it will be messy, and that’s okay
Your first draft is not supposed to be perfect. It’s not even supposed to be good. The purpose of the first draft is momentum. This is the phase where you allow ideas to come through you without judgment or interference. It’s raw expression, discovery, and permitting yourself to be imperfect.
Think of your first draft as the clay you will later mold into something beautiful. Without the clay, there is nothing to shape. So don’t try to sculpt every sentence as you write it. Just get the words down and honor the creative chaos. That’s where the truth of your story begins to emerge.
2. Editing will slow you down
You might be tempted to stop and polish every paragraph. You may feel the urge to rework sentences until they flow just right. But editing while drafting is like trying to build a house and paint the walls at the same time. It slows everything down and interrupts your creative rhythm.
The creative brain and the analytical brain cannot operate at full strength at the same time. Drafting requires openness, intuition, and spontaneity. Editing requires logic, precision, and restraint. Let each phase have its own space.
When you commit to drafting first without stopping to edit, you allow your ideas to flow freely. You’ll be amazed at how much clarity appears once you have the full story in front of you.
3. Word count doesn’t matter
There is a lot of pressure in the writing world to hit daily word counts: 1,000 words a day, 50,000 words in a month, 100 pages by spring. While goals can be helpful, they can also become heavy and discouraging if you fall behind.
What matters more than word count is consistency. Showing up with intention, even if you only write 200 words, is still meaningful progress. Some of the most important breakthroughs happen on days when the word count is low, but the clarity is high.
Progress isn’t always measured in numbers. It’s measured in movement.
4. plotting is good, but plan for changes
Outlining your story gives you a roadmap, but your characters will inevitably take detours, and those detours are often where the magic happens. Plotting is an act of intention. It helps guide your narrative. But it should never be a rigid rulebook.
Allow your plot to evolve as your story reveals itself. You might discover new motivations, hidden backstories, or unexpected twists that didn’t exist in your original outline. That’s the beauty of storytelling—it lives, breathes, and shifts as you engage with it more deeply.
The goal is not to control the story, but to collaborate with it.
5. your characters to hijack your story
It will happen. A character you meant to keep quiet will suddenly demand the spotlight. A side character may refuse to stay on the sidelines. A quiet love interest may become the emotional heartbeat of your book. This is not a sign that you’ve lost control of your story, but that you are deeply connected to it.
When your characters begin to act on their own, it means they have come alive. And when they come alive, they will guide the story in ways you never could have planned. Trust that process. Follow their lead. They often know the truth of the story before you do.
6. Discipline wins over motivation
Motivation is unreliable. Some days you will feel inspired and energized. Other days you will feel tired, distracted, or unsure of yourself. If you wait to feel motivated before you write, your first draft will take years longer than it should.
Discipline is what moves your story forward. It’s the ritual of showing up even when it’s inconvenient, messy, or uncomfortable. It’s choosing your future book over temporary distractions. Discipline doesn’t have to be harsh. It can be gentle, sacred, and steady.
Create a writing ritual that supports your consistency. Light a candle, make your tea, put on your writing playlist, and step into your creative space. Show up for the story, and it will show up for you.
7. It can get lonely
Writing is often described as a solitary act—but great writing is rarely created in isolation. When you surround yourself with other writers, you gain accountability, inspiration, and support. You realize that you are not alone in your doubts, your slow days, your messy drafts, or your breakthroughs.
A supportive writing community celebrates your progress, helps you stay focused, and reminds you why you started. It gives you a place to share your ideas, receive feedback, and stay connected to the deeper purpose behind your work.
If you are longing for a space like this—a place where writing becomes a ritual, where your voice is honoured, and your story is supported, I invite you to join us.
Your first draft is not the final version of your book. It is the beginning of becoming the writer you are meant to be. It is supposed to be imperfect. It is supposed to challenge you. But it is also meant to transform you.
So write bravely. Write messily. Write with curiosity and persistence.
The story you are trying to tell is waiting.
And it begins with page one.
Yours in ink,
Sharla
