Master Your First Draft
Starting your first draft can feel like standing at the base of a mountain, looking up and wondering how you’ll ever reach the top. It’s intimidating at first, but trust me friends !! With a plan in place, the climb becomes manageable, even enjoyable. Here’s how I tackle the challenge of starting a new story.
Plan that Shit Out!
Before you dive into writing, it’s important to map out the basics of your story. This doesn’t have to be perfect or overly detailed—just enough to give you a clear direction.
Who Are Your Characters? Consider who will drive your story forward. What are their personalities like? Are they bold and brash, or quiet and introspective? What challenges will they face, and how do these obstacles shape them? Think about their relationships, too. Who are they connected with, and how do those connections influence the story? Will your focus be on a primary character or an ensemble cast?
What’s the Timeline? Decide the scope of your story. Does everything unfold over a single day, a week, or years? Maybe even decades? Knowing this helps you structure the pacing and maintain consistency.
What’s the Vibe? Is your story eerie and cryptic or lighthearted and fun? Pinning down the tone will guide your descriptions, dialogue, and world-building. That said, don’t stress too much about perfecting this upfront; you can refine it during editing.
What’s the Bigger Picture?
Once you’ve sketched out the basics, think about the broader goals of your story. What’s the central idea or lesson you want readers to take away? What revelations or resolutions do you envision for your characters? Having a rough destination in mind will help keep you grounded as you write.
LET IT FLOOOOOW!
Now comes my favorite part: letting it all pour out. Once you’ve got a general idea of your story’s structure, characters, and tone, start writing without holding back. Don’t worry about spelling or grammar, I promise, this isn’t the time for perfection. Spill every thought onto the page, even the half-formed ideas that don’t seem to fit at first. You never know what hidden gems you’ve got hidden in your mind.
For example, when I started writing Taken For Granted, I originally planned for it to be a classic slasher story, with each character being picked off one by one by a psycho—something along the lines of Scream or I Know What You Did Last Summer. But as I wrote, the story evolved into something entirely different, becoming a layered mystery that I never could have predicted at the start.
FLexibility is key.
While it’s helpful to have a plan, allow your imagination the freedom to take over. Characters may surprise you, plot twists may appear out of nowhere, and the tone might shift as you discover new layers to your story. That’s part of the magic of writing—embracing the unexpected.
Don’t be so hard on yourself.
The first draft is your playground. It’s where your ideas come alive, morph, and take shape. Don’t let the fear of making mistakes hold you back. Start with a plan, let your creativity flow, and trust the process. Before you know it, you’ll have a draft ready to refine into something truly remarkable.
So, grab your notebook or open your laptop, and start writing. You’ve got this!