3 Simple Steps to Your First Draft

The #1 enemy of a writer? That dreadful blank page.

I blame the blank page for allllll the procrastinating.

If you struggle with getting started, this is for you…

Here are 3 simple steps that’ll get you to your first draft - quickly:

Step 1: The Brain Dump

This is a quick way to get all the crap out of your head. Those thoughts about what you’re doing or what you’re going to eat for dinner will truly stop you in your tracks. Just get it all out. Start typing and don’t stop. Write everything that comes to mind, knowing you’ll never show it to anyone. (And don’t ever show it to anyone!) If you need to type gibberish, by all means do that! But then write what you’re trying to write, giving zero f’s about grammar, punctuation, even word choice. Just write like crazy so you’ve got something.

Step 2: The Break

Walk away. Take a break. Ideally, leave it for the next day, but at least an hour. Take a walk, a shower, a nap, eat some chocolate. Step away and don’t look back. This is an opportunity for your brain to just rest. You’ve emptied it out on paper, now take some time to enjoy life away from the task.

Step 3: The Chop

Now start editing like crazy. Be ruthless. Set a timer for 30 minutes and jump in. Move words around, cut extra words. Cut some more. Keep cutting and rewriting. Can you say more with less? Are you repeating thoughts with different words? Keep it up.

Aaaand, time!

You’ve got your first draft.

The Bottom Line

Assuming you can sit down and just whip out a first draft is what’s stopping you from starting.

Nobody can do that.

First get it all out of your head, then step away, then cut it down.

Oh, by the way, your first draft will suck.

And so will your second and third.

I’m telling you this so you’re not surprised when you see it.

But once you have a first draft, you no longer have a dreadful blank page. And that’s when the real fun begins.

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