Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
0 ratings
Ebook60 pages27 minutes
The Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 7. The First Draft
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
()
About this ebook
This Little Book is a collection of suggestions and guidance to help a new writer through the process of writing the first draft. Starting the first draft of a novel or any kind of book can be daunting, particularly if you are not appropriately prepared. This Little Book is a guide to the tools you will need to use and the preparation required before you make that start. Once you are aware of what is needed and when you have adequately prepared yourself, you will know you are ready to make a start. In fact, you will almost certainly be eager to start and watch your book unfold
This book will tell you how to use your outline and your chapter outlines to the best advantage. Your chapter outlines are your most important tool. They will be your friend, your guide, and your map to your story. Use your map and you will not get lost.
It will also discuss the value of unleashing your creativity by ‘writing fast’ and not editing as you go. Writing and editing use different parts of the brain; you should not try to do both things at once. Write now, edit later. You will also be reminded of the need for continued planning and commitment. You need to maintain your motivation, and you must commit yourself to a time to write.
This Little Book assumes that you have done all the preparation and you are now ready to start the first draft of your novel or book.
If by chance you have not done the preparation steps, then I suggest you should look at Book 1 in The Little Book for Writers Series. It will show you how to prepare in six easy steps.
Author
Robbie McCauley
When Robbie McCauley retired early from a varied working life, which included the duties of Secretary to Members of Parliament, Researcher, Primary School Teacher, and Bank Manager, she began to take writing classes and discovered the joy of writing short stories. At the same time Robbie decided to study for the Bachelor of Arts degree she had always wanted. This was the start of a new world. She now has many degrees including a Masters in Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism and a Post Graduate Diploma in Writing. Her qualifications provide an excellent background for story writing. At present Robbie teaches a writing class called "Let's Write a Book" with the University of the Third Age (U3A) and is happy to have finally written her own first novel, The Eleventh Hour, which is planned to be Book 1 of a trilogy. Robbie lives in Australia, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. She is divorced, has one lovely daughter, an excellent son-in-law, and three exciting grand children.
Read more from Robbie Mc Cauley
The Resort Mysteries. Uncle Jack Book 1 The Resort Mysteries. Uncle Jack Book 2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to The Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 7. The First Draft
Titles in the series (9)
The Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 1. How to Write your Book in 6 Easy Steps Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 2. Motivation, Commitment, and Planning Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 4. Getting to Know your Characters Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 5. On Chapters Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 3. The Outline Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 8. On Revision: Editing and Proofreading Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 6. On Structure Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 7. The First Draft Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 9. On Publishing. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related ebooks
The Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 4. Getting to Know your Characters Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 1. How to Write your Book in 6 Easy Steps Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWrite it Now. Book 7 - The First Draft: Write Your Novel or Memoir. A Series Guide For Beginners, #7 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWrite Your First Novel Now. Book 7 - The First Draft: Write A Book Series. A Beginner's Guide, #7 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Last Techniques I Learned Before Selling Fiction Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCreating Stories: Author Blueprint, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 3. The Outline Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNovel To Success: How to Write a Good Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPerfecting Your Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWriting Tips And Tricks - More Than 40 Ways to Improve YOUR Writing Today!: Author's Secrets, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBeyond the Style Manual Bundle #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Scribe July 2016 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe 30-Day Novel and Beyond! A Training Program for Aspiring Novelists Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFinding Your Fiction: Concise Steps to Writing Successful Fiction Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSo You Want To Be A Writer? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPlanning a Novel, Script or Memoir Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Quiet the Critical Voice (and Write Fiction) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPlots & Tension Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Write a Book Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStory Pitch: The How-to Guide for Using a Pitch to Create Your Story: Writer to Author, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWriting Starter Kit: Mini Edition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Are You Actually Going To Write A Book Or Just Talk About It?: Actually Author Series Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Begin Writing Fiction Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlood, Sweat and Ink: The Pleasure and Pain of Writing a Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhy Write? Why Publish? Passion? Profit? Both? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsImproving Your Craft for the Professional Writer: Business for Breakfast, #18 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow To Write Nonfiction - Demystified Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 2. Motivation, Commitment, and Planning Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNarrative at Your Fingertips: The Most Popular Methods for Creating Unforgettable Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Language Arts & Discipline For You
Barron's American Sign Language: A Comprehensive Guide to ASL 1 and 2 with Online Video Practice Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Dirty Sign Language: Everyday Slang from "What's Up?" to "F*%# Off!" Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings100 Words Almost Everyone Confuses and Misuses Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Talk Dirty Spanish: Beyond Mierda: The curses, slang, and street lingo you need to Know when you speak espanol Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLearn Sign Language in a Hurry: Grasp the Basics of American Sign Language Quickly and Easily Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language from Anywhere in the World Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Verbal Judo, Second Edition: The Gentle Art of Persuasion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Speed Reading: How to Read a Book a Day - Simple Tricks to Explode Your Reading Speed and Comprehension Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5500 Beautiful Words You Should Know Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Show, Don't Tell: How to Write Vivid Descriptions, Handle Backstory, and Describe Your Characters’ Emotions Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Easy Spanish Stories For Beginners: 5 Spanish Short Stories For Beginners (With Audio) Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Lost Art of Handwriting: Rediscover the Beauty and Power of Penmanship Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Everything Sign Language Book: American Sign Language Made Easy... All new photos! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Craft of Research, Fourth Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Writing to Learn: How to Write - and Think - Clearly About Any Subject at All Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Metaphors We Live By Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Plot Whisperer Book of Writing Prompts: Easy Exercises to Get You Writing Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Get to the Point!: Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Dramatic Writing: Its Basis in the Creative Interpretation of Human Motives Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related podcast episodes
How to Organize a Successful Kindle Book Launch 0% found this document useful283 - The Undefeated Marketing System with Phillip Stutts 0% found this document usefulS2E1: Bold Life Lessons From The Master Of Finance: Stephen Schwarzman - Part One 0% found this document usefulDenise Withers, Author of Story Design: The Creative Way to Innovate 0% found this document usefulHow to Start Writing Your Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel 0% found this document usefulEp112: What's Wrong with My Story? 0% found this document usefulWhat to Do When You Want to Quit Your Book 0% found this document useful5 Takeaways From Coaching Writers in 2021 0% found this document useful
Related articles
Ideas To Change Your Life WomankindArticle
Ideas To Change Your Life
Apr 22, 2019
7 min readPrivate Equity’s New Era MoneyWeekArticle
Private Equity’s New Era
May 26, 2023
Rising interest rates can affect investment returns in multiple ways. They compress valuations: if you can get a higher return on cash, you’re less willing to pay up for risky assets. They push up the cost of debt, which many types of investors use t
2 min readChildren’s Books Taught Me Everything I Need to Know About Backstory Literary HubArticle
Children’s Books Taught Me Everything I Need to Know About Backstory
Oct 1, 2018
3 min readThe Russian Nesting Doll Theory of Motivation Writer's DigestArticle
The Russian Nesting Doll Theory of Motivation
Apr 12, 2021
7 min read8 Stocks That Will Have You Investing Like Buffett KiplingerArticle
8 Stocks That Will Have You Investing Like Buffett
Apr 4, 2019
6 min readSet Your Scene Writing MagazineArticle
Set Your Scene
Sep 7, 2023
7 min readPeople In Place Writing MagazineArticle
People In Place
Nov 2, 2023
6 min readSort Out Your Shorts Writing MagazineArticle
Sort Out Your Shorts
Aug 4, 2022
6 min readThe Four Elements Writer's DigestArticle
The Four Elements
Apr 10, 2023
8 min readMake Your Stories Stronger Writing MagazineArticle
Make Your Stories Stronger
Oct 5, 2023
6 min readFive Writing Tips from Mark Bowden The MillionsArticle
Five Writing Tips from Mark Bowden
Apr 8, 2019
The question most in my mind when writing is: What exactly are you trying to say? A clear answer to that question will help you avoid confusion and cliché. The post Five Writing Tips from Mark Bowden appeared first on The Millions.
5 min readPicture book PITFALLS Writing MagazineArticle
Picture book PITFALLS
Aug 4, 2022
5 min readFinding The Voice To Tell Your Story Writing MagazineArticle
Finding The Voice To Tell Your Story
Apr 7, 2022
5 min readHow To Get Discovered Writing MagazineArticle
How To Get Discovered
Dec 1, 2022
6 min readYou Too Can Write A Novel The Australian Women's WeeklyArticle
You Too Can Write A Novel
Mar 23, 2022
4 min readYou Too Can Write A Novel Australian Women’s Weekly NZArticle
You Too Can Write A Novel
Mar 23, 2022
4 min readWRITERS’ WRONGS: Your Writing Workshopped Writing MagazineArticle
WRITERS’ WRONGS: Your Writing Workshopped
Aug 3, 2023
5 min readSet the Hook With Great Beginnings Writer's DigestArticle
Set the Hook With Great Beginnings
Oct 18, 2021
As a novice fisher, I’ve only caught a few fish, but I’m already thinking about better ways to hook more. Likewise, as a writer, I think a lot about how to write beginnings that will hook readers. Just as fishing advice abounds, so too does writing a
4 min readWRITER’S WORKSHOP: Character And Voice Writing MagazineArticle
WRITER’S WORKSHOP: Character And Voice
Jan 5, 2023
7 min readBecoming a MULTIGENRE MASTER Writer's DigestArticle
Becoming a MULTIGENRE MASTER
Jun 19, 2019
7 min readGigi Will Know The WriterArticle
Gigi Will Know
Feb 27, 2021
What is the most helpful book – or even top three books – you would most recommend to fiction writers to improve their craft? —LURKING IN THE SHELVES Dear Lurking, I don’t love books dedicated entirely to craft. I find some of them obscure and pedant
3 min readThe way TO WIN Writing MagazineArticle
The way TO WIN
Jan 4, 2024
7 min readDouble the Fun Writer's DigestArticle
Double the Fun
Jun 12, 2023
7 min readHow To Be CREATIVE Writing MagazineArticle
How To Be CREATIVE
Apr 1, 2021
5 min readThe Pocket Guide to Pantsing Writer's DigestArticle
The Pocket Guide to Pantsing
Jun 12, 2023
7 min readSpring Cleaning Writing MagazineArticle
Spring Cleaning
Apr 1, 2021
6 min readPressing Concerns Writing MagazineArticle
Pressing Concerns
Aug 5, 2021
I was lucky enough to participate in a virtual seminar at this year’s London Book Fair, titled Playing with Prose: Form, Character, Setting. My co-panellist was award-winning writer, Michael Arditti, who wears various hats as a playwright, journalist
2 min readHalfway Through Blues Writing MagazineArticle
Halfway Through Blues
Oct 1, 2020
6 min readBad Advice Boogie Writer's DigestArticle
Bad Advice Boogie
May 8, 2019
5 min readA Happy RELATIONSHIP Writing MagazineArticle
A Happy RELATIONSHIP
Jul 2, 2020
5 min read
Reviews for The Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 7. The First Draft
Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
0 ratings
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Handy Little Book for Writers Series. Book 7. The First Draft - Robbie McCauley
The Handy Little Book for Writers Series
Book 7
The First Draft
Robbie McCauley
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2014 Robbie McCauley
This book is available in print at most online retailers
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
CONTENTS
About this book
Chapter 1 - Before you start
Some Theory
Questions you should all ready have answered
* Genre
* Plot
* Concept
* Setting
* Timeframe
* Characters
* Conflict
* Voice
Some more on POV
Some Hints
What makes a good story?
Chapter 2 - Tools you will use
* Your Outline
* Your Chapter List with Titles
* Your Chapter Outlines
Story Template
Story Arc Template
Seven Top Tips on Writing with Style
Chapter 3 - Motivation, Commitment, and Planning
Make time to write
Tips for making time to write
How some writers work
Believe in yourself
Some Quotes
Chapter 4 - Where do I start?
Timelines
Remember it is a draft
Use your outline
Use your chapter outlines
Know your characters
Openings
Tips for the First Chapter
Chapter 5 - Writing your Draft
Write fast
Keep your chapter outlines beside you
Show, don’t tell
Creativity
Don’t go back
Write 1st, Edit 2nd, Proofread 3rd
Some Quotes
Chapter 6- Some Thoughts
Ken Follett on The First Draft
Some Quotes
Summary and Good Luck
Resources used in this Book
Other Books in the series
The Author’s Writing Websites
About the Author
ABOUT THIS BOOK
This Little Book is a collection of suggestions and guidance to help a new writer through the process of writing the first draft.
Starting the first draft of a novel or any kind of book can be daunting, particularly if you are not appropriately prepared. This Little Book 7 is a guide to the tools you will need to use and the preparation required before you make that start. Once you are aware of what is needed and when you have adequately prepared yourself, you will know you
Enjoying the preview?
Page 1 of 1