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Article by: Mackenzie Baum, freelance writer at Globe Soup.

Writing the first draft of a novel can make the sanest person question their sanity. There are so many phases and feelings that a writer conquers in order to get the first draft out. Imposter syndrome and writer's block being the biggest.   

Here are a few tips to keep yourself grounded and focused on your task and finish that first draft.

Set Goals

Make deadlines for yourself. This is a great way to track your progress and feel a sense of completion. Setting deadlines in your writing will help you see finishing your novel as not just an idea but a goal. Do not let the idea of finishing your book be too daunting to finish. 

The first draft is not the finished product

Remember the first draft is just for you. Its sole purpose is to get the story down, editing comes later. I always catch myself trying to make the first draft perfect when truly it is just the starting point. It is the snow you’re shoveling to make a snowman.

Keep a schedule

Just write, do not get too into your head about it, sit down every day and write. It does not matter if it is 5 or 5000 words staying in the practice of writing, will ensure that you finish your novel. Remember five bad pages are better than the best unwritten pages. You can make bad writing better, but you can’t work with what is not there, so keep writing!

Find a writing group

Many people are drawn to the writing life simply for time alone. However, when you get drawn into a deep world that only exists to you, feelings of isolation and loneliness are sure to come up. The community part comes later when your book is out there for people to find and fall in love with.

If the loneliness gets you too down, consider looking for a writing group on Facebook or an in-person workshop close to you. You may be surprised by the number of people who share your goal and feel inspired to keep writing.

Re-read your favorite book

Reading your favorite book will make you feel inspired to keep writing. After all that book started the same way, yours is. It too was once an abstract idea in an aspiring writer’s head that had to be flushed out to be made whole. Re-reading your favorite book will reaffirm your goals and help you feel more confident in the journey.

Don’t compare your first draft to finished books

This is something that can hold you back from ever starting if you let it. Remember you are on step one. That book you are reading has already gone through all its phases to reach completion. That author started off exactly where you are, and you can be sure that they never would have published their first draft.

Self-care

Writing takes a fair amount of brain power. So, remember to repower and refuel your energy levels to keep from getting burnt out on your story. One of my favorite self-care items after a long day of writing is a heated lavender eye mask. I slip it on while I listen to some soothing music, and it takes all my tension away.

Make an inspiration board

On days when you feel like giving up, having a board or some kind of physical representation reminding you of why you are writing this story will keep you motivated to keep telling it. Whether what inspires you is success, a feeling of completion, or a drive to be like your favorite authors, keep it at the forefront of your mind as you write and have it there for when doubts creep in. 

Remember no one can tell your story but you.

Manifest your dream writing space

This can make all the difference in whether your first draft gets finished or not. Create a space where you feel creative and inspired, a space you look forward to sitting down to every day and writing your story. Even if you only make small changes to your working station to make it more appealing you will feel the difference. 

A comfortable chair is a necessity for writing for long periods of time.  

Getting the first draft of your novel out of your head and onto paper is the most vital step. It is also one of the toughest. First-time writers struggle more with writing the first draft of their first novel than they will with the rest of their writing careers. Just remember as you write that finishing your draft will be worth all the pain and suffering you go through. Take on Dory’s positive attitude and just keep writing.

Mackenzie Baum is an aspiring fiction and blog writer. Her focus genre is fantasy and romance. A lover of all things books and coffee, she can often be found sitting in her hammock reading her Kindle. Mackenzie has two doodle dogs that are her pride and joy. 

Instagram link:  Mackenzie B (@mackenziebwriting) | Instagram