Getting that first draft out as fast as possible should be the aim of every writer. And you do that because your first draft gives you the structure of your book. First drafts are where you learn what your book is about. First drafts give you the platform you will build off. This is why you need to have one in place as soon as you can. You won’t make solid progress if you don’t do this.
To move that draft on fast you need to set yourself regular achievement targets, something you can aim for each day or every week. Here, you have several choices:
- set an amount of time you will commit to writing each day or week
- set a word target for each day or week
- set a page target for each day or week
- identify a ‘problem’ to solve each day or week
Which you use depends on your personal circumstances and where you are in your book. My advice for a first draft would be to:
- set a time target if you have a schedule to work around. So, when you have done your writing hour or two, you finish irrespective of how many words you have done, or,
- set a word target if you have some tie flexibility. This way you can keep going until you have done your 1,000 or 2,000 words for the day.
I would tend to use the other two options for the rewriting and editing phase. So, with a page target would aim to pass through ten pages of a draft making improvements and filling in gaps. And with a ‘problem’ target you would focus on improving a specific section of the book in the time available.
Do you need a push to get your book over the finishing line? Then get in touch. I can help with ghostwriting, editing or as your book coach.