Before you can publish a book, you have to write your first draft.
To find the focused time to write, it’s helpful to actually to decide to write your book.
I was amazed at the energy that ramped up when I finally decided that was the year I was going to write the book I was going to publish. Envisioning it finished, anticipating its heaviness in my hands, quickened my pulse. Imagining someone being encouraged by it made me giddy and hopeful.
Suddenly, my priorities shifted. I wished I could bottle up that burst of inspiration so it wouldn’t fizzle.
How can I keep motivated so I can get this full draft done? I wondered.
I figured there must be a secret strategy to write your first draft. So I watched YouTube videos of how other authors write their first drafts. I read Stephen King’s memoir, On Writing.
Then I tried following their magic formulas. I dragged myself out of bed at 5:30am and wrote… or rather, I blinked groggily at the blank screen. I wrote after my daughter was in bed… or rather I squeezed out some words in paragraph and blinked slowly at the half blank screen. I wrote at home, in a coffee shop, in the car overlooking Lake Ontario.
Was it really supposed to be this hard?
Quitting wasn’t an option anymore. Suddenly it clicked, and I found my groove. Here are the 3 revelations that helped me write my first draft.
#1 Permission to Write Your First Draft Imperfectly
The point is to get your First Draft Done. Once you have a raw manuscript, that’s when you can truly carve, revise, and shape your masterpiece to delight the reader and make your impact. That means you just need to write, get words on page after page after page.
Imperfect words.
Messy thoughts.
Diamonds in the rough.
Just so you truly understand what this means, you need to know what other authors call their first draft:
fast draft
terrible first draft
vomit first draft
messy first draft
junk draft
rubbish first draft
crappy first draft
draft 1.0
Get the picture? This revelation alone, or rather the acceptance of it, helped me write most of my non-fiction book’s first draft in 60 days. It’s okay if your first draft isn’t polished. And the better a writer you become, chances are future first drafts won’t be as chaotic. The key is to write freely and let out your ideas.
#2—More Than One Way To Write Your First Draft
After devouring books on writing and watching how-to videos, trying to find the “right way” to go about writing my first draft, I saw the common thread: Each author had their own approach.
Some non-fiction authors map out enough of their outline, chapter titles and subheadings to write their first draft efficiently. Some writers like to write a lot to find their voice and see how their ideas connect. They don’t let wasted words bother them because it helped them dig for the good stuff.
Some write fast. Others write slowly.
Some write in an orderly way. Others write haphazardly.
Some write a little each day. Others fit it into a weekend session. Others book a couple weeks off to immerse themselves in their flow.
Some record their voice and transcribe it. Others use AI for ideas and outlines. Still others find that handwriting flows better for them, while many prefer to type.
What’s attractive is when a writer figures out what works for them. Many then teach other new writers their system. That’s fine if their structure and fresh ideas help bring you momentum. What’s not cool is when authors or trainers make it sound their system is the only effective way to write your book.
For a rule-following, template hoarder like me, discovering the secret behind these authors’ creative process liberated me. The truth: there is no right or wrong way to worry about! This revelation helped me relax and figure out the rhythm and system that worked for me. When I stopped worrying about doing it “wrong”, I could focus and write.
Once you figure out what works for you to get words on a page, even if they’re messy and incomplete, you’ll be able to best determine how long it will take to finish your first draft.
#3—Find Your Motivating Challenge
“You can write your book in 60 days.”
I would have given myself a year to write the first draft of my book if I hadn’t seen this encouragement in my inbox. Instead, I accepted the challenge, and realizing it could be possible to finish it a shorter period than I assumed invigorated me. To learn how I did this (and discover how long it really took to write the first draft of Dare to Decide), sign up for Your Book Publishing Timeline email course.
Just like there’s more than one way to write your first draft, your motivation for finishing that first draft. Often traditionally published authors with repeat book deals have deadlines and agents and editors to answer to that motivate them to finish their book. Some authors who churn out 4-6 books a year have nailed their niche and their writing system. Keeping up with their readers’ appetites and their income goals motivate them to keep such tight deadlines.
However, sometimes it takes more than a deadline to spark follow-through motivation.
Sometimes motivation comes in the form of creative accountability. Tim Grahl used dread to cut through his procrastination by giving his friend a generous cheque he couldn’t afford to mail to the political party he detested if his manuscript wasn’t done by a certain date.
In his memoir, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Stephen King insists that having a daily writing goal and sticking to it helps maintain momentum, which helps with motivation.
My friend Jo told me her curiosity about her characters keeps her pen flowing until the last page. Some authors have told me they finished because of the sheer pleasure they discovered in writing. And others admitted their motivation to finish came the moment they believed they could.
Uncovering the layers of “why” is a good place to start! Why do you want to write this book? Why does that matter so much to you? And what would delight and motivate you to write your first draft—and finish it?
Final Thoughts
Whether a sprint in 60 days or a couple years of musings, finishing your first draft might feel daunting. But with belief, a plan and some quality ingredients, it could be possible for you! The key is giving yourself permission to write your first draft as an imperfect version of your vision. This stage is all about getting ideas on the page and honing in on your unique voice without worrying about perfection.
There’s no single “right” way to approach writing. What matters is finding your groove. Experiment with routines—early mornings, lunch breaks, or evenings—and choose what fits your life best.
Consistency is your superpower. Whether you aim for a daily word count or schedule regular writing sessions, showing up regularly builds momentum.
When you have a non-fiction draft to celebrate—it’ll messy yet real. It’s proof you did the work and honored your story. And yes… then the real work begins! Keep going—it’s worth it!
