I have written more than a dozen first draft novels. I’m a queen when it comes to getting a first draft down. Haha! But each time I write a new novel, it is just like the first time—difficult, demanding, depressing, and doubtful. I have learned what strategies work for me and share them here, in case they may work for you.
1. Join NaNoWriMo.
Before I joined NaNoWriMo, I was determined to be an author. I wrote stories. I wrote picture book scripts. I wrote notes for a novel. I even started a novel. But I found it difficult-going and the manuscript languished, a partial something.
I had heard of NaNoWriMo, and went into it accepting it as a challenge. I read Chris Baty’s guide, “No Plot, No Problem.” I also recognized that the rules were really just guidelines—and this was in 2005, when rebels were few and far between. I decided to work on my first novel—but started in a vastly different place, and put my goal at 25,000 words, rather than 50,000 words. When I hit 25K with half a month left, I changed by vision. I wrote nearly 60K words that first year. I didn’t complete the story! But I did write notes for the last few chapters, and finished it in January 2006.
Having target word counts for every day meant I made more progress in a steady manner. Having a deadline gave me hope for finishing and allowed me to move faster. Having a community, albeit online, was simply fantastic—I could ask questions and get answers! I took “dares” when my imagination was running dry, and added unusual aspects to my story that I might never have hit upon if I weren’t participating in NaNoWriMo. I know that NaNoWriMo isn’t for everyone—but this was the single most valuable choice I made. Every year since, but one, I’ve written 50K on a novel. Find NaNoWriMo at http://www.nanowrimo.org.
2. Have a Germ of an Idea.
This can be a character, a setting, a situation. “No Plot, No Problem” gives the assurance that you can start with nothing and come out okay. I tested that one year, and quickly found I needed something-some pre-formed thought. As little as a girl who’s sad…or an associate I dislike and want to expose for the fraud s/he is…or here’s an incident in the newspaper. I have started with a character (yeah, the associate who wasn’t all s/he was cracked up to be). I have started with setting (Guam 1856). I have started with situation (an unsolved murder). Having a germ of an idea is enough for me—a pantser. I can grow my story from there.
Others may want an entire outline, with everything plotted out. But at the very least, I strongly encourage having a germ that can create a viral storm, a seed that can produce an entire crop of life-sustaining produce, a single snowflake that you can get rolling into a glorious avalanche.
3. Set up an organization system.
Although I am a pantser and start with very little planning usually, I find it important to have a handy-dandy organization system as I write during NaNoWriMo (November). I like to drop things into the folders as I write, so I don’t have to worry about finding them later or when I need them.
I set up desktop folders (or documents) for characters (a table where I can drop in names and descriptions); for settings (where I can say where it is and what it looks like); for dates/events (a timeline of what’s happening in the story). It helps to have a random idea folder, where you can place things you may not use in the story but are too good to throw away or lose track of. I like having a folder for dares, so I remember which ones I’ve taken. I like having a folder for people who help me along the way, so if I ever publish I can have acknowledgements! (I haven’t always done that, and I regret it for my early novels.) Whatever you want to keep track of, set up your organization system first, before you start writing.
4. Plan for failure.
Failure is the lifeblood of noveling. It’s going to happen. Half-way through, your eyes will feel like dry, dead things. Your wrists may hurt. Your shoulders may hurt. Your back may hurt. You might have tech problems where the internet is down or your computer or laptop or whatever devise you’re using suddenly seizes up and refuses to cooperate. In this part of the world, you may have typhoons. You might have family obligations or unexpected turns at work.
Planning for failure means having a back-up plan. Maybe eye drops and Tylenol. Maybe candles and notebooks. Frequent back-ups of your draft, or e-mailing it to yourself, or even printing out hard-copies periodically. A plan for sharing family rituals or covering work. I spent November 2018 living at a friend’s, writing by candle in a paper notebook because of Supertyphoon Yutu and its devastation. I eventually got my laptop working and charged up at the hospital; wrote at a restaurant once in a while. And managed to write 50K that year. The NaNoWriMo experience was one of the only tethers to my normality that I had, and I wasn’t going to give it up easily.
Whatever you can anticipate as going wrong, have a back-up plan in place so you don’t get derailed easily. You may still get derailed. Life happens. But if you have a back-up plan, you might get back on track. Or you can at least feel that you gave it your all and somethings just aren’t meant to be.
5. Arrange Your Self-Talk and Motivations.
When you begin to write a novel, you almost always feel the surge of adrenalin from the sheer excitement of starting. After a week or so, however, you can hit the doldrums and find yourself lost in a vast ocean, nothing on the horizon, and no motion but the rolling waves that make you seasick. During every novel I’ve written there has come a time where my feelings are overwhelmed and I am depressed. I am certain that what I’m writing is the worst thing I’ve ever written. That inner voice says why are you doing this? It is worthless. Junk. Trash. A waste of time. Others find the lure of distractions and the pressures to do other things gets a firm grip and becomes an almost insuperable hurdle.
Here’s where you need to know what you’ll say to yourself to keep going. You need to know yourself (“Know thyself!” –ah, Shakespeare). You need to know what might work for you. For me, I don’t usually quit. There’s something about perseverance that is hard-wired into my psyche and the idea of quitting is more offensive than the pain of continuing. So all I need to say to myself is “I’m going to finish anyway!” or “Just keep going.” (“Just keep swimming!”) “Just do it.” You might try reminding yourself the process will get better or easier later; or that it will all be over eventually.
Some find motivation in quotes and paper their walls with them. Others use totems or little tchotchkes or photos or drawing or special items they keep in view. Some like the scent of candles or fresh flowers. Some write to music where the rhythm helps them keep going. Some like a window. Some like having a closed off cubbyhole. Whether it’s words, music, space, things, or even incentives, find what will keep you going when the dark days of doubt descend during NaNoWriMo.
6. Prepare a word or idea jar.
I recommend doing this in advance of November. Go to your trusty dictionary and collect words. Write them out one by one on colorful paper and stuff them into the jar. While you’re reading novels, borrow some of the ideas and write them out, one by one, on pretty paper or ugly paper, and stuff them into a jar. Go online and look for sensory words or phrases, quotes on various topics that may relate to novel themes like death and life and love and resurrection and decay and greed and whatever. Write them down and stuff them into your jar.
Reach into the jar during NaNoWrimo (or whenever you’re writing your novel first draft) and see what you pull out. This adds a random dimension that can be very energizing to your writing. You can use it when you feel blank or blocked, but you can also use it at other times. Keep the jar year to year and keep adding to it! Life is full of random surprises and you will have it all at your fingertips!
7. Write Out.
This is an easy tip! Don’t just cozy up at home or work. Write out in the public spaces of your community. Go to cafés, coffee shops, libraries, restaurants, hotel lobbies, the beach or park. Writing in public is a strong statement that you are a writer, a novelist! Revel in the experience! It also gives you the great opportunity to people watch (and add to your novel).
8. Make a Novel Book Cover.
Create your novel cover, both front and back. You get to visualize your novel as a book with a cover. Sorting out images or typography exercises a different part of your brain and is good mental calisthenics. Writing back cover copy helps create a potential story. Adding blurbs that laud your work from famous authors or noted publications is such a trip for the ego! Making a book cover for your novel provides inspiration.
It also helps if you can to periodically print our pages of your novel as you write them and stick them between the covers of your book. Seeing your novel grow into a thick pad is rewarding and re-affirming of your identity as a writer!
9. Celebrate.
There is nothing more affirming and inspiring than celebrating the results of your hard work during NaNoWriMo or your novel-writing period. It can be fun and amusing. It can be empowering and collegial.
I have two favorite ways to celebrate here in the Marianas, experiences that aren’t always something that can duplicated, but that I have enjoyed. One is to have a celebration with sunset drinks and a read-aloud at a local venue like PIC or Oleai Beach Bar. Having a few friends come along and read random passages from the novel you just wrote is ridiculously enjoyable. You may have written the most horrible sentences but they will sound glorious and entertaining in the mouths of your friends! If you are part of a group of writers and more than one of you has a novel to share, you can each take turns in the limelight. But it is important to have non-writer friends participate. They should be duly impressed with your feat at novel-writing! (and encouraged to buy at least a round of drinks).
Another celebration here I enjoyed was the Author’s Day at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, which came shortly after NaNoWriMo. The JKPL printed all of our novel drafts and included the novel covers we created for them, and then spiral-bound them. Being there with other writers, some of whom are published, and being acknowledged and greeted as a writer was lovely! We also got a nice photo!
I am sure there are as many ways to celebrate as there are novelists and novels out there. My personal recommendation is to have something planned, but not too planned. Just enough to bask in the pleasure of having cranked out 50,000 words into a somewhat novel-shaped form—that is a true celebration.
Here’s hoping you find these tips for writing a first-draft novel helpful and inspiring.
#NaNoWriMo #MarianasWritersMovement #Preptober