How to draft a novel in three weeks

Yes– it really is possible! And you don't need to be a robot.

If you're like me and you write longer fiction (let's say, anything beyond 40,000 words), then you'll know that getting that first draft out of the system can be... somewhat stressful. When I'm first-drafting I have this constant stress that I'm going to forget x y or z in the plot, or that this character's dialogue won't make sense or that this setting hasn't got enough description or– blah, blah, blah.

But guess what– it's a first draft! You don't need to worry! But seriously, how do you draft something 40,000+ words in just three weeks? I mean, you must be thinking, 'but that's at least 10-15,000 words per week! Right?' No. It isn't. Because after you've worked your steam train overtime to write your first draft, you can add and add and add to your heart's content.

So, how does one write such a high number of words in such a short amount of time? Surprise, surprise, but you don't have to be good at writing or typing fast. It's all about planning and mindset.

Step 1 – Marinate

I also call this the 'fuelling up phase.' To put it simply, you need to do a lot of thinking before you write anything of considerable length. I think it's healthy to stare out of windows for hours on end, picturing yourself in the world, immersing yourself in the character's home–do whatever you must to familiarise yourself. Familiarity is your friend in writing longer fiction. Remember that you and you only are the number one expert on your story. Once you've marinated, you need to–

Step 2 – Have a plan.

You might be skilled in pantsing and already have a clear plan in your head of where the story will go, but ensure you know your inciting incident, conflict and climax (plus any twists) before you go in and write. I love discovering things whilst I write– in fact, I'm a big believer in discovery being a path to happiness, but you need to give yourself some parameters– some clear guidelines if you want to meet a goal. Otherwise, it might be a trial and error project, never reaching a conclusion.

Planning can take the form of writing plot points on sticky notes so that you can move them around (my preferred method) or even using something like a plotting grid, which can be more detailed and is especially handy if you're writing about something with multiple subplots, perspectives and character storylines. Either way, planning is essential if you want to reach that deadline. Lay out the breadcrumbs for yourself before you start eating them. (Just don't eat off the floor, that's just disgusting)

Step 3 – Start writing (but ONLY the story!)

Don't waste time using the first draft to perfect the prose. The accuracy of simile, of structure, or where commas are and aren't– that comes later. That's more polishing than first drafting in my opinion. For me, I like to first draft the events of the story, including any description and dialogue and action onto the page and worry about all the other stuff later. If I spend too long focusing on technical accuracy or figurative language in my first draft, I end up with creative constipation and struggle to remember what's happening– the literal definition of 'losing the plot!'

You probably want to aim to write 1000 - 1500 words a day, in one chunk/sitting. For me, it's either first thing in the morning, or last thing at night. You'll need silence and a cup of coffee I expect too.

Some handy tips:

• Don't go back over anything you've written after you've written it– every word has its weight and revisions are strictly for 2nd drafting onwards. STAY OUT REVISIONS! THIS IS THE FIRST THOUGHTS ONLY CLUB!

• Write for yourself, not for anybody else. Equally, don't share a half-finished first draft with someone for their feedback, because they'll likely tell you something that affects your overall work ethic and then completely trashes your chances of reaching your deadline

• Every time you've finished a chapter, finish your writing session by jotting down the first two sentences of the following chapter– this will act as a springboard to work off when you approach the draft the following day

• Remember that there's no real need to plan out chapters in the first draft, as long as the story is there! Think of chapters like episodes in a TV series as opposed to individual scenes or moments. Then again, you might not need chapters at all!

• Literally ANYTHING can be changed in the 2nd draft, so don't fret if you've made a mistake

And finally, and probably most importantly, don't rush. If you can't reach a three-week deadline, just extend it. Nobody's judging you for taking your time. The key thing is to not look back. Just keep moving forward.

Happy first-drafting!