How to Write a First Draft

Hey there, writer! Are you stuck in first draft no man's land? Are you feeling that creative writing slump? You've come to the right place. 

A first draft is kind of like riding a horse: you hold on for dear life and see where it takes you. Maybe not a horse. Something less tame. Like a hippogriff. That'll work. In writing the start of a novel, you have to think big picture. Luckily, I've got a few tips to help you write a killer, super quick first draft:

What's my character's story?

A first draft is where you really get to know your characters. The more you write, the more you learn. Using creative, get-to-know-you character techniques will help you breeze through your draft.

One of a writer's toughest job is to make realistic characters. Especially secondary characters who don't get as much page-time.

Tips on writing kick-butt characters:

• Get informed! Head over here to learn more about creating believable characters.

• Test their settings. Allow your characters to interact with each other in a setting that makes sense. Then throw them into a setting that doesn't.

• Conversation. Write a conversation between your main characters, focusing only on their words. (Translation: ignore dialogue tags.)

What are my themes?

Theme is a bit tricky. It's never something you state outright in the book, but it's the essence of what your story is trying to say. You say it without saying it. That totally makes sense, right?

The way you get to the heart of this is by seeing how your main character reacts to the plot. How is your character interpreting what he/she is doing, events that are happening to him/her? I suggest not over-thinking theme at the start of your story. As you write your scenes, it just kind of starts to present itself.

My story has a lot of themes, but the overarching one is: do people ever really change? This comes in the form of a love story, through the experiences of my main character growing up, and through the mirrors of her friends, who are also just trying to figure the "adult" thing out. 

Tips on finding your theme:  

• Reread your scenes. Does any "message" keep popping up in your mind? What's the thread keeping your story together?

• Know your characters' motivations. Okay, we're back to characters again. What are their obstacles? What unites them?

• Keep a theme list! Keep a separate tab in your writing notebook specifically for theme ideas. What words/phrases resonate with you?

What's going on with my plot?

Everyone writes in his/her own way. Personally, I write scene-by-scene, rather than in chronological order. I write the scene that I feel like writing in that moment, and hope that one day, all of these scenes will come together.

Stories come in a range of frameworks. You've got your Hero's Journey set-up and your pillar structure and countless other ways.  Remember: there are always exceptions to the rules. As long as you keep true to your story and where it needs to go, you can keep the action/progression/build up. Also, editing helps.

What's that you say? You want more tips? But, of course!

• Outline that 'ish. Personally, I'm a pantser. I don't outline until the second draft, and even then, it's maybe only a page long. My friend Kristin's got great advice on outlining here.

• Brainstorm. The possibilities are endless! Brainstorm the directions your novel can take.

• Know your "why." Every chapter, every scene, every sentence has a purpose. Knowing why you are writing ______ can help determine where you're heading next.

HOW DO I FINISH THIS DRAFT?

Are you ready for a tough truth? Planning is the sneakiest form of procrastination. We tend to sit in the limbo of our first draft because anything past that seems scary.

We need to finish our first drafts, and we need to do it fast. How the heck does this happen?

Sign up for my free email series to learn how I wrote & published my books, all while working a full-time job!

Want even more tips? Check out these articles below:

• The #1 Secret to Writing Faster and Saving Your Time. Yep. Get on that.

• The 5 Best Ways to Start Your Novel. Basically, a continuation of this post.

• Why You Should Write Your Novel on Paper. Still my favorite post that I've written. Head over there and read all the fun comments!

Okay, so there's a lot to think about when it comes to this whole writing business. In your first draft stage, these should be at the back of your mind, but the writing part comes first. Get those words on the page. That's the most important thing.

Discussion time: What are your best first draft tips? Comment below! 

Beta Readers: Why They are Vital to Your Novel

Hello! This post is the first guest post on Blots & Plots, brought to you by my friend, Ashley R. Carlson. She was kind enough to interview me on her blog in July, and now I'm happy to have her here. So without further adieu… 

Ask any new writer or non-writer whether writing a book is something completed on one’s own, and you’ll most likely get this response: “no duh.” (Most likely accompanied by an irritated eyebrow-raise, sarcastic snicker, and/or any other facial expressions that fall along the lines of “might be the dumbest question I’ve heard all week.”)

Any seasoned writer on Earth would tell you the exact opposite—and I’m defining the term loosely; as in, anyone who has written something and realized they had no flippin’ clue whether it was Pulitzer Prize-winning material or akin to the dog turd sitting in their backyard.

That’s why beta readers are so important—nay, vital—to producing a successful, money-making book.  

Beta readers are individuals who agree to read your book before it’s ready for publication (or submission to agents/publishers if you are pursuing a traditional publishing contract). They may offer insight into plot holes/confusing scenes, opinions about character development, messy wording, and a plethora of other issues your manuscript probably contains in its current state. But don’t be discouraged—the first draft or two of any book is going to be riddled with those issues; that is why you are addressing them.

For this post I’m going to use my personal experiences writing “The Charismatics” (my debut fantasy novel, releasing December 13, 2014!) to discuss “all things beta”:

ROUND ONE OF BETAS

While I completed my first and second drafts, I comprised a list of friends met on Twitter and www.cpseek.com who stated they would like to beta read when it was completed. I chose only writer friends, for a number of reasons: they understand the multi-faceted pieces of building a cohesive plotline, they are usually avid readers, and they know what it’s like to receive edits. These will mostly likely be the people who give honest feedback while still keeping your fragile writer’s psyche in mind.

ROUND TWO OF BETAS

After receiving suggestions and criticisms from my first round of betas, I printed out their thoughts (easier to refer to in hard copy) and went through fixing/adjusting any issues that were reported—namely, areas that were confusing (my book is in an alternate universe, and needed a lot of detailed world-building to make better sense), and adding in some more character development. Then I posted on Facebook to my mostly “non-writer” friends and sent out my third draft to those interested.

ROUND THREE OF BETAS

Thoughts from Facebook friends were taken into account and utilized for my fourth draft; mostly continued clarification about the fantasy world and character development (my readers wanted to know more about some secondary characters). Then it was sent to my editor for copy-editing and final thoughts.

Tips For Beta Reader Success:

-I found that a great way to get tailored feedback was by providing a list of questions for my beta readers to keep in mind. Examples: Are the characters believable/likeable? What parts were boring/exciting? What confused you? What scenes, if any, did you find emotionally touching?

-If you are hiring an editor for your self-published book (which you should), then tell your beta readers they don’t need to worry about grammatical errors. Beta readers may be deterred if they feel like they need to “edit” your manuscript; just tell them to read it and enjoy!

-I would suggest noting a time limit; this gives people incentive to read. Make sure it is one that is feasible (not READ THIS IN 24 HOURS GO) but also not too abstract. I’d recommend a month or two, but that depends a lot on your own time table.

-Send your work in PDF format. This enables beta readers to see it on any device that has Adobe Reader, and increases your chances of feedback tremendously (at least, it did for me).

-Keep in mind that criticism is normal, and helpful. I know it can feel like someone is attacking your heart, your soul, but keep an open mind. It’s one person’s opinion; not everyone’s—and when there’s a consensus regarding something in your manuscript, it’s probably worth looking into and revising.

-And finally, remember: people are extremely busy, and are doing you a favor by taking time to read your work. Don’t be offended if people don’t respond, and be extremely grateful when they do. Reciprocate in any way you can, whether that be beta reading their own work, including them in your Acknowledgements page when the book is finished, or just a personalized email. Be gracious and grateful, and you’ll have a beta reader for life (and hopefully a reviewer on Amazon/Goodreads too!).

Ashley is a fantasy author, freelance editor, and editor/blog writer for Midnight Publishing. Ashley will be publishing her debut steampunk-fantasy novel, entitled “The Charismatics,” on December 13, 2014. This is her birthday, and it will be epic. Ashley grew up and currently lives in Scottsdale, and is the proud mother of three animals-a neurotic German shepherd that follows Ashley everywhere she goes, a serene mutt from Mexico, and a cat that gives new meaning to the word "bitchy." Ashley enjoys Yelping for local restaurants, fostering kittens from nearby shelters, and watching the Real Housewives of ... anywhere.

Read the first chapter of “The Charismatics” here, on Wattpad, and find her dilly-dallying at her blog and on Twitter@AshleyRCarlson1.

How to Survive + Conquer NaNoWriMo

Want to know the secret to winning NaNoWriMo? Are you ready? Here's the secret, my friends: get ready to write like crazy. 

So what is NaNoWriMo? It stands for National Novel Writing Month and takes place the month of November, when crazy writer kids get together and try to write their novels. A whole novel. 50,000 words to be exact. Guess who happens to be a crazy writer kid?

Last year, I loosely participated in NaNoWriMo with a group of my writer friends, but it fell at an odd time for me. Because I was nearly finished with my first novel, These Are the Moments, I had trouble reaching my word counts.

But this year, everything changes. Not only am I taking #TATM2 to NaNoWriMo—Lord, help me—but I'm taking you with me. This year, I'm hosting an exclusive NaNoWriMo community, and you're invited. Scroll to the bottom of this post to sign up!

Are you up for the challenge? We need a game plan, folks. I've got three tips on how to survive NaNoWriMo, coming at ya':

Kiss the Delete Key Goodbye

50,000 words, people. And every single one of them counts. I'm a big believer in  writing sprints, so much so that it's my number one writing secret to writing faster. The key to making your word counts is to let your mind wander.

I'll be honest with you: I'm not the best at being totally edit-free, but with practice, I've learned to write through my mental editing. So, goodbye delete key, who needs you anyway?

For stratey, try reading:Why You Should Write Your Novel on Paper.

Be Distraction-Free

"Oh look, a tweet!" How often do you find yourself clicking through apps when you've promised yourself you'd write? We spend so much time wasting time that writing takes twice the time.

Let's break this down, shall we? For NaNoWriMo, you need to write 1,666 words a day. When sprinting, I can write 1,000 words in thirty minutes. That's around 45 minutes of unlocked writing time a day! But add in Twitter? And I'm done.

How do we fix this? Here are some helpful hints:

1. Find your ideal writing space. Do you need absolute silence? Do you write at a desk? Find what makes you most productive!
2. Download a distraction-free software.
3. Turn off your WiFi. (I know you're scared. Trust me.)
4. Schedule your social media ahead of time.
5. Leave your phone in the other room.

Plan Ahead

The most important part of how to survive NaNoWriMo is preparation. I'm talking a whole lotta coffee. When it comes to NaNo prep, this involves at least a small degree of outlining.

A few things you should know before you jump into November:

1. The general plot. When November 1st rolls around, you don't want to be choosing between two story ideas. Unless you think you can write 100,000 words.
2. Your main character. Or a character, at least. Don't worry about names, just know what he/she is all about.
3. A few scenes. 1,666 can add up really fast, especially when you don't have a scene idea. Save yourself the trouble and keep a list of scenes you want to write as a reference.

Remember, NaNoWriMo is a marathon. You don't just wake up one morning and say, "I think I'll go run a 5k today." You train. You practice. Take this same principle to NaNo.

How to Break Writing Rules

Confession: I'm not a grammar nut. 

I know the rules and aced my English courses, but that doesn't mean I have to like them. (I mean, really, can someone just make a definitive decision on the Oxford comma?) 

For me, grammar is just a vehicle. A means to an end. (See what I did there? That wasn't a sentence. I don't care.) So how do we break writing rules and get away with it? Well, my friends, the great writers do it all the time.

Here's the secret: try new styles. Let me rattle off a list for you: Rainbow Rowell, George Saunders, Jonathan Tropper, William Faulkner, Kurt Vonnegut. These writers set their own style from subject matter to word choice to punctuation.

And guess what? People love them. Because they're interesting. Because they make no apologies. Here are the writing rules you should definitely consider breaking:

BREAK PLOT RULES

Happy endings are too predictable. Don't start your story with a prologue. Remember your story structure.There's a reason that there are writing rules. They work. Good old Joseph Campbell with his hero's journey. The snowflake method. The Three Act Structure. 

These plot structures are tried and true (but often predictable). Am I saying to throw every rule out the window? Absolutely not.

There is no wrong way to write a story. Forget about plot point one, climax and denouement. Don't try to make your story fit a structure, if it so clearly doesn't. Let's get specific: 

• Combine genres. I'm ridiculously intrigued with crossover novels. Fairytale meets dystopian. Classic retellings combined with zombie apocalypse. For my novel, These Are the Moments, I stuck with a simple new adult meets young adult genre. 
• Bold endings. Worried about your cliffhanger? Scared to kill off your main character? Be bold, my friend! 
• Pacing. Ditch the clinical structure. Add more action, less dialogue. Add less dialogue, more action. Do what works for your story. 

Examples of breaking plot rules: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

BREAK PUNCTUATION RULES

Quotation marks are for dialogue. Yes, Oxford commas. No, Oxford commas. I happen to be a firm believer in the fragment-as-a-sentence trick. For emphasis. (See?) However, that doesn't mean I'm going to abandon all proper, well-crafted sentences.

When it comes to punctuation rule-breaking, a little goes a long way. Addendum: there are exceptions. Some novels or short stories are contingent on these off-kilter punctuation strategies.

Take Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. It's main character/narrator is a mentally challenged man who often misspells words and forgets commas. See what kind of punctuation fits your story, while still being readable. 

Don't forget to vary your sentences. Unless you don't want to. Without all those cool clauses and prepositional phrases, your reader might get bored. Throw in a run-on sentence or two for good measure. (This is starting to sound more like a recipe than a blog post.)

BREAK STYLISTIC RULES

A paragraph is three-five sentences. Every story has a beginning, middle and end. Avoid slang. A writer's style is their brand. I'm fairly confident I could pick up a Jonathan Tropper book and recognize it.

That's why writers like James Patterson and Danielle Steel write so many books. They've found a genre/style that works for them, as well as a loyal audience. 

CHALLENGE: don't stick to one genre. Embrace your writing style and then break away from it. Or don't. (Am I confusing you yet?) The thing about style is that it can't be forced, 96% of the time. (Totally made up statistic.)

Style is a unique trademark of a writer, because it's how that writer chooses to craft a story. Maybe you like to write in long, sweeping paragraphs. Maybe you like to write choppy, incomplete sentences. Maybe you like excessive setting. Maybe you avoid setting altogether. The more you write, the more your style reveals itself.

Personally, I try to write the way I speak. I want my novel to feel real and honest, true to life in all of its fun, sad and scary parts. Just keep writing. Always. (Gotcha again.)

Discussion Time: How do you break writing rules? What new breaks would you like to try?

How to Make Time to Write

Dear reader,

My name is Jenny Bravo. I'm twenty-three. My daily life consists of eight-hour work days, cooking, working out and writing. this. book. And you know what? That's about it.

Disclaimer: I can't  complain. Why? Because I don't have children to feed or a husband to talk to or soccer practice or parent teacher conferences or any of those things. I have me. And somehow, I still have to work hard to make time to write. Goodness, how do you moms do it?

Here's the thing, though: being an adult requires practicality, and writing/singing/art in general is the least practical, most important thing that we can do. If you're lucky enough to write full time, then you are amazing. Bravo, you! (Not that more time makes writing any less difficult. Because, it doesn't.)

If you're like me, and have a limited window of writing time, then we need strategy. We need to prioritize, organize, plan, plot. Basically, we have to TOTALLY go against our nature to make time to write. Sounds fun, right? Let's get started.

Take advantage of every spare moment.

We're creative. It comes with the territory. So, we need to get creative with our time. Maybe you're a morning person (more power to you). Try waking up thirty minutes early, fifteen even. Then write as much as you can in that set time.

Maybe you're a night person. Put yourself to bed thirty minutes early. Write for thirty minutes until you fall asleep. ADVANCED MOVE: Write on your lunch break. This is my newest strategy. With an hour for lunch, I could knock out about 2,000 words. Try this, once or twice a week. Let me know if it works for you!

Word Sprint.

With time restraints, we can't afford writer's block. We don't have the luxury of fumbling around until we find the words. WE NEED WORDS, NOW! Did that sound authoritative? Good. Word sprints are every writer's best kept secret. Set a timer: 30 minutes? 15? Even 10! Then get writing.

As many words as possible without editing, without stopping. You'll be AMAZED at how this unlocks all the words you've been hoarding. I can write about 1,000 words in thirty minutes. If I do that three times a day, imagine the possibility! (NOTE: I do not do this three times a day. Yet.)

Hide your phone, hide your TV.

I'll admit it. After work, I just want to lounge around and not use my brain. But there comes a point where my book is calling and I have to answer it, of course. But I want to talk to my friends on Twitter. And I want to see all those cute coffee pins on Pinterest. And I need to blog. And and and…. the excuses keep on coming.

Are you sitting down? I'm about to lay some serious knowledge on you. READY? Do you know how much writing you can get done, simply by writing? I know. Mind-boggling. Sometimes, when I have my phone in my hand and I'm watching some stupid reality show and I have my WIP up on my screen, I have the audacity to say, "Yeah. I'm writing." NO. Give your writing your full attention. Make time to write, and write only. Just for a small portion of your day. Watch how much you'll get done!

Take Home Work: Read six strategies here, read seventeen ways here and read this hilarious post here.

DISCUSSION TOPIC: Okay, these ideas are great for writing. You will see results and words this way. But how about editing? groans groans groans. How do we make time to edit? Comment below. Let's get the ideas in motion!