First drafts are often dreaded in the writing community. I know, for myself, it's actually my least favourite part of the whole "writing a book" thing. I live for outlining, and I can get behind revisions, but I often feel that drafting falls short. I can picture everything in my head, but I just can't get it onto the page the way I want it.
However, all that being said, there are definitely things that you can do to alleviate some of that first draft pressure. So let's take a look at some FAQs about first drafts of a novel to try to dispel some of those worries.
What should I expect from a first draft?
First drafts are often (but not always) messy. Many of the answers to these questions are going to be, "Well, it really depends on who you are." That's the thing about writing: it's so subjective.
For myself, my first drafts are short. They average around 50,000 words. By the time I'm completely finished, after many rounds of revisions and beta readers, my books average 85 - 95,000 words. So that might help to give an idea of where I sit.
I also know writers whose first drafts are sometimes over 200,000 words, and they have to cut back in revisions.
What anyone should expect from a first draft is that it is going to be the most raw, unfiltered version of your story. It's just the point of getting all your thoughts on the page to be adjusted later. Whether you're an underwriter or overwriter, whether you write a clean first draft or a messy one, it will need to be revised.
How do I get through the first draft?
This is an interesting question. I feel especially equipped to answer because I didn't write my first book for years--and not for lack of trying. All throughout high school I had ideas for books, but I'd get a few chapters in and realize I didn't know what came next and I'd give up.
I thought that meant I wasn't cut out for writing.
Turns out, all it meant is that I'm not a Pantser. I'm a Planner through and through, and all I needed to get through my first draft was an outline.
Even as a Pantser, I highly recommend outlines. (Check out this post by Meg Wald or this post about types of outlines.) There's one out there for everyone, and it can be as simple as a sentence for the beginning and a sentence for the end.
For myself, the more I have mapped out about my story and my characters before I begin, the easier I get through that first draft. It helps me to ensure I'm writing consistently, and there are fewer developmental issues for revision.
The short answer to this question, though, is that getting through the first draft requires writing the first draft. And that's where a lot of people get stuck.
What should I not worry about in the first draft?
Most things. As mentioned above, the first draft is just getting all the thoughts onto the page. Sometimes that means entire scenes or plot points will be missing. These can simply be noted for later revisions with a TK (an editor's mark that stands for "to come") or an inline comment. Anything that's going to remind you to add that in later.
I know people who write first drafts in dialogue only; I also know people who add in every detail they can possibly imagine.
The only thing to worry about with a first draft is getting a beginning, middle, and end onto the page. Outside of that, all those other things can be revised or added in later.
One of my favourite quotes about writing is, "You can't edit a blank page."
But, if you're looking for a little more guidance, you can check out this post by Ari Meghlen about 8 Things Not to Do When Drafting A Novel.
Is the first draft the hardest?
Sometimes. I certainly think so, but, again, it's also my least favourite part of the process.
I think the first draft is often intimidating because of the blank page. It's easy to think about all the things that could go wrong: What if no one likes my story? What if I don't get to The End? What if I'm wasting my time? What if I write the whole thing wrong and have to start from scratch?
Those worries are valid. It's scary to put art out into the world. We open ourselves up to a lot of criticism as writers. But those are also the things that hold so many back from writing a book at all.
So is it the hardest? Probably, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth it.
How long is the average first draft?
This one really depends on who you are. As I mentioned earlier, my first drafts are often about 50,000 words. Some people's are closer to 200,000 words.
If you've ever seen, heard of, or participated in NaNoWriMo, you may be familiar with their recommendation of 50,000 words in a first draft. But that's also in a month. You may take longer to write more for a first draft--or even less!
This one is entirely subjective. If you're looking for a general planning timeline from start to finish, you can check out this post by Rachel Poli.
How long should the first draft take?
This may vary from book to book. I've had some books take three weeks to draft, and some I've written over six months. Some stories are just harder to write than others.
I've heard the advice that as a writer, you should write every day. I get that, but I'm also very conscious of burnout. So many are working overtime these days that the thought of coming home and carving out a few hours to get some words down on the page is just not a viable option.
V.E. Schwab wrote The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue over ten years. (Not just the first draft, the whole process, but still, that gives an idea of how long some things can take!)
The short answer: the first draft should take as long as it needs.
Now, this is also the benefit of not being on contract. If you were to sell a two-book deal, you may have a limited amount of time to write the first draft. But without a contract, don't stress about the deadlines. The book will be done when it's done.
What are the most important parts of a first draft?
Typically, the most important parts of a first draft are having a beginning, middle, and end. We also want to have the main character and any side characters that are going to show up (although some characters will show up in later drafts as well). It's also good to figure out the tone of the book. This will likely come out as you write rather than something that's planned out before, but it's good to be aware of.
Other than that, everything else can wait!
How do you prepare for a first draft?
Everyone prepares differently. I like to have sheets for all the characters I know will show up in the story. These sheets list a summary of their backstory, some fun information such as likes and dislikes, general physicality descriptions, and what their goal is.
I'll also have an outline based on the Five Act Structure. Mine looks like a bullet-pointed list with a few sentences beside every point.
I will also consider the genre and age category I'm writing in. That way I can tune my writing to the things that are typical for that genre. I'll also consider what my main theme or takeaway is (although this comes out more for me once the first draft is written, it's still good for me to know what I want to say).
If I'm writing in fantasy, I also like to have a general map so I can write directions well.
But that's what works for me! Some people will only start with a premise.
Can a first draft be incomplete?
Yes and no. First drafts will be incomplete in many ways--like minor plot details and character elements or other things that will be added in revision.
However, a first draft can't be missing an ending or a middle. At that point, the draft is not finished. It's better to write it all to revise later rather than not having one at all.
I hope this helped to alleviate some of that first draft pressure, and also provided some context for prepping for that draft. The bottom line is to figure out what works for you. Unfortunately, that comes through trial and error, and those questions can often only be answered by you.
If you have any more questions, feel free to reach out via my contact page!
Happy writing,
Erin