I think we’ve already established that writing a first draft can be hard. There is beauty in it … but also great evil.* Okay, “great evil” may be overdoing it, but it’s definitely very difficult.

The first draft is the point at which most authors give up on their story. They just stop writing, and another set of characters, another world, another plot dies.**

So how can you keep your novels breathing in their tender first draft stage?

*This is your cue to leave because I cannot be serious today for some reason.

**I am being so dramatic today, helllllp.

Learn to Write on Command.

Some people say writing can’t just be shut on and off like a tap.
Or … can it?

To be honest, I believe that you can teach yourself to write on cue. There is some truth to writing being art, but … sometimes you just have to make yourself write.

How?

• Set a time for yourself to write every day.
  • Keep it religiously.
• Participate in word sprints.
  • Publicly shamed if you just sit there doing nothing.
• Read this blog post.
  • It’s a guest post I wrote.
  • (You have to scroll down quite a ways to get the actual post.)
  • It has some great tips, though.
• Hang out with other authors and learn their secrets.
  • Yeah, I got nothin’ …
• Check out the following articles which all have great tips that it would be plagiarism for me to use.
  • 3 Ways to Work Through a Difficult First Draft @ Write It Sideways
  • How to Write Whether You Feel Like It or Not @ The Write Practice
  • 6 tricks for writing when you don’t feel like it @ Writer Unboxed

Conceal. Don’t Feel.

In most cases, this is terrible advice that no parent should ever give their child, especially if that child is clearly already anxious and probably in need of a good cry. And crumpets.

I’ve never had a crumpet, but it sounds like they help when you’re sad. Even the name is happy. Crumpet, crumpet, crumpet.

But … in this case …

Don’t let your emotions get in the way of writing! You may feel that your book sucks. You may feel that you are a complete failure. But you know what? Giving this novel a voice is more important than your stupid feelings.

So hide those dumb emotions under the rug and WRITE ON.

Sequester Yourself.

Make a time alone every day when you can just sit down and write like a maniac. If this turns into a hermitage, even better.

Hermits make the best writers.

Also, sequester yourself from plot bunnies! Make sure those little monsters don’t tear yourself away from your work-in-progress. Ignore them for now.

Remember …

Fear Will Be Your Enemy.

Don’t let yourself be bogged down by fear! YOUR BOOK IS THE BEST. YOUR WRITING IS THE BEST.

You know why? Because every author is different. With the sweat of your brow and a good dash of preparation, you’re going to do splendidly. You’re going to produce something no one else can produce.

Put an End to This Winter Writer’s Block, Muhahaha.

YOU NEED TO JUST WRITE, GIRL/BOY.

This icy cold terrain that is writer’s block/a lack of inspiration/whatever you want to call it … it’s not good!

Just finish it.

You need to commit. You need to decide that you will write … and just do it.

Resources

• Five Reasons You Should Outline
  • For people who need convinced that outlining is the road to a life free of writer’s block.
• Writing Plans: Why They Can Be Disastrous
  • For people who want to revel in their lazyness.
• 10 Tips for Surviving Camp NaNo
  • A good laugh + some good tips for Camp.
• When You Feel Like Giving Up
  • Some inspiration for the glum author.
• Are you meant to be an author?
  • Just in case my post has made you have an existential crisis.
• Balancing Writing with a Busy Life (guest post @ Frozen Book Blog)
  • Because writing + life = NO NO NO I CAN’T DO THIS HEELLLP!
• Ten Ways to Cope with Writer’s Block (guest post @ Jaylee Morgan Writes)
  • Because how else are you gonna write when you don’t want to?

I hope no one thought there’d be actual tips.

TTFN!

~Kellyn Roth~

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p.s.

How do you push through to complete your first drafts? I hope you have some better tips that I did. *coughs* How do you defeat writer’s block? Was this all just an excuse for share some #Frozenlove?