Today, I want to talk about a step that every writer both dreads and dreams about: creating the rough draft of your novel.
Last week, we looked at how to build a detailed outline, but now it’s time to add some flesh to those bones. This process is simple in theory, but—let’s be honest—it’s far from easy.
Step 1: Character and Worldbuilding
Before you dive into the draft, it’s worth spending some time exploring your characters and setting. One trick I love is writing short scenes from your characters’ lives before the events of your novel. These don’t need to appear in your book, but writing those pivotal moments helps you understand their voices, motivations, and wounds.
The same goes for your world. Write down notes about your setting, cultures, or magic system. You don’t have to go deep right away, but keep a document, notebook, or wiki that you can update as you go. This helps to minimize annoying continuity issues like a uniform changing color between chapters or a street magically teleporting from the east to the west side of town.
I personally use a WorldAnvil wiki, but a simple Word doc or notebook works just as well—as long as you keep it organized.
Step 2: Write the Draft (The Simple Part)
The actual method of drafting is straightforward:
- Start at the beginning of your outline.
- Write the scene described.
- Repeat until you reach the end.
That’s it. Easy in theory, but the real challenge is sticking with it. And that’s where most writers stumble. In my experience, there are three main roadblocks:
- Fatigue
- Story weakness
- Hopelessness
Let’s break those down.
Battling Fatigue
Books are long—really long. Even short novels take a staggering number of hours to write. And once the excitement wears off, it’s easy to feel drained or tempted by new, shinier ideas.
Here are a few strategies that have kept me writing:
- Schedule writing time. I used to wake up early, grab a blanket, and dedicate 45 minutes every morning to writing. I logged my word count for each session—not to hit a specific number, but because seeing a low count lit up my competitive streak. If I skipped a day, I would note why in the log to keep myself accountable.
- Write one sentence. If you can’t face a full session, just commit to one sentence. Often, that momentum carries you farther than expected. And if not? You’re still one sentence closer to finishing.
- Take the pressure off. Remember Shannon Hale’s quote: “I’m shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.” Your first draft doesn’t have to be good. It just has to exist.
Recognizing Story Weakness
If you dread writing a scene, that’s usually a red flag. A scene that’s boring to write is boring to read, too. Other times, you may find yourself directionless, characters feel “off,” or you stumble into a plot hole.
Here are a few quick fixes:
- Boring scene? Try changing the weather, merging it with another scene, adding a subplot element, or writing a “what’s the most exciting thing that could happen right now?” version to spark ideas.
- Directionless scene? Revisit your outline. Flesh out the vague parts, and if needed, picture the scene as if it were playing on screen. What would make it compelling?
- Characters acting out of character? Re-examine motivations. Can you tweak the action, the situation, or even the character involved to make it believable?
- Plot hole? Return to the outline. It’s frustrating, but fixing it early will save you bigger problems later.
Facing Hopelessness
This one hits the hardest. Writing is humbling work. I’ve written hundreds of thousands of words—some published, many not—and I still wrestle with rough drafts.
At some point, you’ll look back at your earlier chapters and cringe. You’ll swing between “this is brilliant” and “why did I waste so much time on this garbage?”
That’s normal.
If you stop when it feels hopeless, you’ll never see your story completed. But if you push through, you’ll not only have a finished draft—you’ll have proof that you are growing as a writer. Every book teaches you something new.
Remember: the authors you admire once sat exactly where you are now. The only difference is that they kept going.
Final Thoughts
Writing your first draft isn’t about perfection. It’s about discipline, persistence, and trust in the process. If you can:
- Make time for writing,
- Strengthen weak spots when they appear, and
- Accept the ups and downs of the journey,
then you will finish your draft.
Just begin at the beginning, keep moving forward, and remind yourself—you’ve got this.
Happy writing!