After my post, Time, I got an email regarding my first drafts and the speed with which I write them. The reader was interested in getting some tips on speeding up the process.
There are a few things that help the first draft go quickly for me. Deadlines for two series have something to do with the motivation, for sure. And practice helps, too.
But there are some steps I take that help make the writing go a little faster.
I do an initial brainstorming on paper, before I start the project, for random ideas. Sometimes I don’t end up even looking at the paper again, but it does help to get the creative juices flowing.
I’m writing series and have a particular pattern to my books. I like to start with a prologue (I know. They’re not popular with editors, but…I’m all about rule-breaking. And they seem to work for me.) I usually follow up the prologue with a surprising conversation. I’m not spending a lot of time thinking about how I want the book laid out because I figured that out a couple of books ago.
I have a storytelling voice, so I treat the draft as if I were transcribing a story that I’m telling someone. It’s conversational. The story unfolds in an easier way that way. I ask myself “what if” as I go along. Telling the story aloud helps, too—as long as I’m not out in public where talking to myself is frowned on.
Sometimes, as I write, I’m not happy with the direction I’m taking the story in. I start taking the story in a new direction at that point and flag the point where the storyline changes so that I can come back and fix the text before that point during the second draft. I don’t stop at that point and rewrite the older scenes. That’s a revision task. The mark I make with Word’s Track Changes or with Word’s Highlighter makes the editing easier later, though.
I don’t like big outlines, but I do like small ones. I’ll sketch out what I want to accomplish for the next page. It’s got to take the plot somewhere.
When I finish my writing for the day, I make a note of where I need to pick up the next day. I never read the text I wrote the day before. It completely messes me up—it not only makes me feel insecure about the project, but it slows me down.
Since I’m writing series, many of my characters and settings have already been established in a previous book. I can easily pick up with those characters just like I pick up with an old friend I haven’t seen for a while. Since my protagonists are established, I’m not spending time trying to figure them out as I write–I’m working on character depth.
Also…genre mysteries run around 75,000 words. I’m not writing literary fiction, which runs a lot longer.
I’m writing primarily from one POV. Sometimes I’ll let the reader into another character’s head—but it’s just for a second or two. I’m not developing complicated storylines for multiple POVs.
I’ve learned to write anywhere and with any noise level. This helps tremendously since some days I’m doing my writing on the run. The ability to adapt to any environment I’m in makes the writing go faster.
I love writing and reading dialogue. To me, it’s the best way to have characters interact, to create conflict, to include backstory, etc. Dialogue is also the quickest thing for me to write. And…it uses up a lot of space on the page, just by its nature. There are lots of indents and short sentences with dialogue.
I type fast. Really fast. It does help.
Also—I think it’s really, really important to set an attainable goal for yourself. And I mean really attainable. Mine used to be one page a day. It didn’t matter how I scraped together that one page—some of it could be on sticky notes in the car that I gathered up later. But I always got that one page. This made me feel really positive about my progress—after all, if you write just one double-spaced page a day then you’ll have a first draft in less than a year (assuming you’re not writing something really long.) When I felt positive about the progress, I usually found myself going over my goal. But even if I did go over my goal, I still wrote my one page the next day.
I write every day—even on weekends. Even on holidays. I don’t want to get right up on my deadlines, which would really stress me out.
Before I know it, the first draft is done. And boy, it needs work! I’ll go back and check all the notes I left for myself in Track Changes, and return to the highlighted text and edit like crazy. It takes another 6 weeks to get the thing in shape for submission to my agent or editor.
To me, the most important thing is that I’m writing every day. And reaching my goal…no matter what that goal is.
A very interesting post. I like the idea of setting a reachable goal – like the one page a day and writing every day. A good steady pace accomplishes so much more than rushing to do several days’ writing in one.
I hadn’t thought about it, but by reading what you wrote the day before would tend to slow you down. I know when I re-read something I wrote the day before, it sometimes throws me off track of what I had in mind to write before I re-read the piece. Thanks for the great tips.
There is some really good advice ehre. Thanks so much for sharing your method.
I kind of have to read what I wrote the day before because I usually can’t remember where I got to – but I have to force myself not to change the writing from the day before during the first draft.
Excellent tips, Elizabeth. I can see the things that slow me down. When I realize I need to plant a clue or foreshadow something I’m writing today, I immediately scroll back and insert the needed text in the earlier pages. And since I’m writing multiple POV, I always go back to the character’s last scene and read it to make sure I pick up the next scene in the right place. I think I’ll just have to accept being a little slower, because these methods do work for me and save me time during the revision process.
Elizabeth – Thanks for your perspective. You really do have som fabulous tips to help save time. They obviously work for you, too, because what you write is terrific. Can’t wait for your Memphis Barbecue series : ).
These are all excellent tips. I’ve just dusted off a novel in progress that I’m literally in the middle of and haven’t looked at in 12 months….so your post was perfectly in tune with what I needed to read today!
Forgot to tell you, you have an award at my blog in yesterday’s post! (As if you can fit another one on your site!)
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
Great advice! I’m fast on the keyboard too – makes a huge difference. I can pretty much type as fast as my brain is going – thank goodness for automatic spell check :)
This is great information. I love hearing how others get to their goals and deadlines.
Reachable goals is so key to everything in life.
I type fast too. I’m so glad.
Again great information.
I’m like cassandrajade – I use the day before’s work as my ‘running start’ into the day’s writing.
I also try to stop ‘in the midst’ when I know what my next plot points will be so it’s more exciting to come back.
I started printing out my day’s production for hubby to read, and he’d catch glaring typos or tell me if he was bored. So, as long as I had the printouts, I’d look at them too (usually in bed) and I’d see those crutch words and other minor problems. That gave me a starting point for next time.
I can’t deal with worrying that I might forget to fix something — even with notes. Especially in a mystery where one missed clue reference can really mess things up.
I’ve used my non-plotters story board for my last book, and it worked very well. Since I write very deep POV, and shift POV characters between scenes, I’m like Patricia and have to make sure I haven’t left anything out when I get to that character’s next POV scene.
You are a very disciplined person. That’s the key!
I need to get better with writing with noise. I’m terrible at that.
Wow you’ve really got your process analyzed. I don’t think I could’ve written an outline like that in response to how I go about writing a first draft efficiently. I just get in these “zones” where I can’t key the words in as fast as the inspirations are coming (and I also can type fast) and “wake up” several weeks later with a full length ms. I usually lose weight during the process because I don’t want to take food breaks, and need a few days of extra sleep to catch up in that department, then after a week away from the book I go back at it with brand new eyes and my editor’s cap on to start the self-editing/rewrite/revisions process.
But hats off to your very organized and thoughtful approach. Writers are all different, hmm?
Marvin D Wilson
Thanks for this. It’s inspiring. I have a daily goal, but I think I’m a slug. It takes me about three times as long to write and edit as it does you. Good going. I’m going to try to ramp up my writing speed. Maybe put it on jet instead of a crop duster. Whattaya think?
Thanks for your thoughts on first draft writing. It’s timely for me because I’m about to start a new novel.
*I start taking the story in a new direction at that point and flag the point where the storyline changes so that I can come back and fix the text before that point during the second draft. I don’t stop at that point and rewrite the older scenes. That’s a revision task. The mark I make with Word’s Track Changes or with Word’s Highlighter makes the editing easier later, though.*
This is a big one for me!! I always want to go back and repair. I always want to perfect the beginning to match it to where the story is going, and I’m learning (primarily through personal experience and blogging) that this is suicide for a writer.
Thanks so much for sharing your schedule earlier this week, and this outline of your first draft method. This is so appreciated!!
(And WOW, you are IMPRESSIVE.)
~ Corra :)
from the desk of a writer
I do a lot of the same things that you do when I’m starting out! I just told myself a story out loud yesterday (while alone, thankfully) but it really does help. Thank you for all the tips as always – your blog is extremely helpful to me.
Thanks for sharing this, Elizabeth! I too, was floored you could get a first draft in a month. Wow.
Elspeth
I’ve learned to tune out most things. However, the typing? Dear Lord, I am slow! Probably between 30-35 wpm. And that’s with mistakes. You’d think after 30 years of typing, I’d be faster…
A page a day. Now that’s doable. That’s definitely doable. Why haven’t I thought of that one? O yeah, because I want to be super woman :)
Thanks for this, Elizabeth! This is very encouraging. I read today that just doing it is enough. I tend to think if i can’t do it perfect or write three chapters it’s not good enough. But the page a day…yeah, THAT I can do!
Happy Weekend,
Jen
I liked the writing on weekends and acting as though you are transcribing it.
These are great.
~ Wendy
I love reading about how you go about your writing, Elizabeth. The not reading the day before’s work – that would be tough for me and I can see how it would be helpful. Just barrel through so to speak. Well enough of this – time to get to my work!
What an amazing process you have. Very different from mine, which makes me believe I should revisit the way I write. As I read, I thought, ooh, I couldn’t start a day of writing without re-reading what I wrote the day before. Then I thought, give it a try, see if you can make it work.
Thanks for the advice and the peek into your writing process.
Helen
Straight From Hel
I, too, was amazed at how quickly you could knock out a frist draft. These are very interesting, insightful, and useful tips. Gotta Tweet this baby. Thanks, Elizabeth.
Best Wishes Galen.
Imagineering Fiction Blog
I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw: I type fast. Really fast.
Love it! I wish my hubby could type as fast as I do. Maybe he’d get done with his work quicker!
Typing really fast does help. A writer friend recently told me it was more fun chatting online with writers, ’cause they could respond quickly. Yay for touch-typing!
As for writing with noise around? Haven’t mastered it yet. Wish I could. I need to find a rhythm like yours, good lady. Thanks for the pointers, though!
Thanks for the details on your writing style; I too wondered how you did it. I’m much slower and much less disciplined but you gave me some great ideas. I particularly like the one about an achievable goal. Then I won’t waste time berating myself over what I didn’t accomplish yesterday.
This is wonderful advice. I too have a process. I know my books will be 90,000 words average. I know I write 1000-1500 words a day so will be done the first draft in three months. I do write a prologue, I have main characters that continue through my series and so on… it helps to have a plan.
ann
I think you have a great system. It reminds me a little of what I do when I’m READING a great book–carry my stuff around and open wherever I can.
I am more distractable than you are, that’s for sure. And I do some rereading to get my bearings most nights when i get started (I’ve wandered off somewhere strange a few too many times if I don’t do that–usually ending up in a corner). Love your ideas on this! (My 6-week book is only about 70K–and the 2nd in that series, the NEXT 70K took 2 months, the 3rd will be closer to 3I think… did I mention I’m not done TYPING the first yet?
–you’re fast.
Always great to hear other people’s processes. An attainable goal every day is key I find. I edit the last days work before starting a new section, which is probably what slows me down, but it helps me remember the tone and keeps me from going too far with a stupid idea.
Mason–Slow and steady wins the race! (I’m full of little inspirational sayings. My kids LOVE them! Not!)
As far as the reading what I write goes…it just completely messes me up. After getting messed up over and over again I finally realized I shouldn’t do it. Who cares if the transition between the day before and today is a little shaky? That’s something that gets ironed out in later drafts.
Cassandra–That’s why we all want to take a peek at the previous day’s work…to see where we left off. It’s okay as long as we don’t get mired down in corrections. I tend to get mired down in corrections, so I put myself on a short leash.
Suzanne–Thanks! I’ve done that before–picked up a manuscript I haven’t looked at in 6 months. The fresh perspective for the book felt wonderful!
Patricia–I think when it works for you than that’s the thing to stick with! I tend to put a comment box with Track Changes in the margin to remind myself that I need to go back and set up the clue (or whatever I need to plant in the text.)
Margot–Thanks. Your system is obviously working out well for you, too! Looking forward to the next Joel Williams.
Marvin–Well, now that you mention it, it was hard to figure out what my process actually WAS. To me it was just work, work, work. Don’t look back. Keep going. Keep going. Then I had a first draft. I had to really think about it.
Michele–I most certainly can! :) Thanks so much!
Corra–Thanks!
It’s an easy trap to fall into, isn’t it? But a first draft really isn’t for fixing things. It works for some writers, though. For me, I’m just too Type A to be unleashed on text I’ve already written.
Diane–The typing helps a lot. I probably average 80-90 wpm. Enough so people look at me with an annoyed expression in the library when I pound away…
Jemi–I love automatic spell correction! This is another reason why I’ve switched to writing on the computer instead of writing longhand–it’s just so much faster.
Teresa–I think you’re right. We can apply reachable goals to everything. It’s so easy to get discouraged when the bar is set too high. Why not pass an easy goal and feel good about ourselves and possibly even continue past our goal?
Terry–I really like your idea of stopping during an exciting part of the book so you can pick up the plot with that same excitement the next day. Great idea!
I also really admire your storyboards. I’ve done an online version of storyboarding, but that’s it. I may have to try it out some time.
Wendy–Thanks! Yeah, unfortunately, writing on weekends happens. But it doesn’t take that long–can easily be done before folks get up, or while kids are napping, or before we turn in for the night.
Alan–And I know that *you* are. You’re right–it’s key to success with goals.
Jan–I do sometimes feel like I’m barreling! It’s a really fast pace. But I can’t correct it until it’s on the page, so I get through that first draft as fast as I can.
Helen–But your process has been working really well for you. That’s the thing…whatever works. It’s always worth trying something new, though, and see how it works out.
Galen–Thanks for the tweet! :)
Kristen–The kids have trained me to write around noise, unfortunately! And my crazy mommy schedule has forced me to be able to block people and noises out to be able to write. I used to be really self-conscious, but now I don’t even realize the other people are there.
Carol–It makes for a first draft that needs work, but at least it gives us a point to work from. :) Good luck with it!
Paul–Best of luck with your new novel. Hope the tips help.
Julie–Thanks. Yeah, the talking to myself thing is definitely going to get me locked away one day. At least the manuscript gives me an excuse for doing it.
Elspeth–If the deadlines hadn’t gotten so much closer together, I probably never would have ramped it up. But I’m glad now that I can do it.
Simon–Oh I can text like crazy. My son has nothing on me in the texting department. :)
Those kids of yours will train you to write with noise…don’t you worry! :)
Jen–Don’t we all want to be Super Woman? :)
The page a day worked really, REALLY well. It stopped working well when the deadlines got established, but before then? It produced a book that got on the shelves. And I didn’t feel like I was being a slacker because I always met my goal. It really encouraged me. Hope it works for you!
Kathy–I think that’s key, I really do. Otherwise we get so frustrated when we can reach our goal…and we may give up.
Ann–That sounds like a great plan to me–dividing up the work makes it a lot less menacing when we look at it.
Hart–And if you know your plan for what you want to write that day, you can squeeze it in even if you just have 10 minutes while you’re waiting for a doctor’s appointment.
And thanks! I still say you’re probably more productive than I am.
Janel–Isn’t it frustrating when they just plug along? I’ll take the computer from him sometimes and just type in whatever it is that he’s trying to write up.
Lorel–It’s true about trying to remember the tone of a scene. I wonder if a voice recorder would help when making notes on tone, etc. before signing off for the day.
I write under such impossible conditions that it’s amazing that I can write at all. What I really need is a great fat lottery win, so that I can lock myself away in heated summer house at the end of a very long garden. Regards planning the story – I can only plan a few scenes ahead – if that. Like a river, the story must find its own way to the sea.
Tooty–Me too. And I’m also a bad chess player. :)
This couldn’t have come at a better time. I am going to start my first round of revisions on my first completed manuscript this week, and advice from someone like you is exactly that I needed.
Thanks
A handmade trackback since I can’t figure out how to do it the official way. :) I mentioned this article at my blog in a january in review post. Cheers! – Corra McFeydon