How Do You Write A First Draft Quickly?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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How do you write a first draft quickly?

Write in a quiet room without interruption at the same time for at least thirty minutes every day

. Start in the middle of your first draft rather than at the beginning or end. Don’t stop to edit yourself or fix typos and grammar mistakes.

How do you write your first draft fast?

  1. Sketch an outline. If you have a structure in mind, even a loose one, you’ll improve your writing speed. …
  2. Do your research in advance. …
  3. Just say ‘No’ to distractions. …
  4. Begin with the end in mind. …
  5. Write a messy first-draft…fast. …
  6. Set a time limit. …
  7. Reward yourself. …
  8. Learn to type faster.

How long should it take to write a first draft?

The first draft process can take anywhere from

two weeks to one year

, depending on how much time you’ve set aside to write, how long your novel is, and how fast you write.

How is a first draft written?

A first draft, also known as a rough draft, is the very first version of a piece of writing—a rough sketch of what your finished work will be like. A first draft is

written after the outline is finished

and is usually done without much editing.

How do you write a quick draft?

  1. Brainstorm every aspect of your story. …
  2. Know it well. …
  3. Define your goal. …
  4. Set expectations. …
  5. Small increments, multiple times a day. …
  6. No self-editing. …
  7. Make a list of additional research. …
  8. Writing sprints are your friend.

How bad are first drafts of novels?

Let’s start off with a fact: most (if not all)

first drafts are terrible

. Even Ernest Hemingway says so. There’s not really any avoiding this, not even for the most talented or experienced writer. But when you think about it, the concept of a less-than-stellar first draft is actually quite liberating.

How do I finish my first draft?

The best way to finish that first draft is

to develop a writing routine

. Make writing a daily habit. Set goals for yourself. Do a bit every day and in a few weeks you’ll be able to finish a story.

How do you make a good draft?

  1. Outline your core topic. …
  2. Identify your audience. …
  3. Plan with pre-writing. …
  4. Make a mess and clean it up in later. …
  5. Avoid adding minute details. …
  6. Start writing without engaging your inner critic. …
  7. Don’t stop to do more research. …
  8. Seek appropriate feedback.

What are the basic elements of a first draft?

  • An introduction. …
  • A thesis statement that presents the main point, or controlling idea, of the entire piece of writing.
  • A topic sentence. …
  • Supporting sentences. …
  • A conclusion.

What are the do’s and don’ts of writing a first draft?


Focus on word count only

, for the first draft (not number of chapters, for example, or anything else). Be content to just see that word count go up. Do make yourself feel safe. You may find that you need absolute silence or stillness while you’re working on the first draft of your memoir.

What is a quick draft in writing?

If you think the term “fast-drafting” is pretty self-explanatory, you’d be correct. Fast-drafting is quite literally the

process of writing the first draft of your novel (or short story, novella, etc.) as quickly as possible

. No hesitation, no excuses, no editing-as-you-go.

What is an example of a draft?

The definition of draft is something that is used for pulling, drawn from a cask or is in a rough form. An example of draft is

a horse that pulls a beer truck

. An example of draft is a beer on tap. An example of draft is a book without any corrections made.

How do I write my first draft without editing?

  1. Turn off your monitor. …
  2. Start each day with a fresh page–at the end of a writing session, copy the last sentence into a new document along with some instructions to yourself about what’s next. …
  3. Write with a timer. …
  4. Write by hand.

Why are first drafts so bad?

First drafts are bad

because they are overwritten

. It’s so hard to complete the first draft without having overwritten in some (or many) parts. We are trying so hard to get our point across that we use far too many words and tell our readers what’s going on rather than showing them.

Why do first drafts make writers uncomfortable?

If you’re a writer, you know that writing the first draft can

feel painful

. The words that appear on the page don’t match up with the images in your head. … The first draft isn’t meant to be perfect, friends, because the first draft is much more for the writer than it is for the reader.

Do first drafts have to be good?

You

should write bad first drafts

because: Most first drafts of books are bad anyway. Editing a bad first draft is easier than editing a blank page.

Juan Martinez
Author
Juan Martinez
Juan Martinez is a journalism professor and experienced writer. With a passion for communication and education, Juan has taught students from all over the world. He is an expert in language and writing, and has written for various blogs and magazines.