How to Conquer the Most Common Mistakes of Writing a First Draft
Mistakes that you can easily overcome to write dozens of books
I had tried writing a book three times before finally writing my first book. It was so discouraging to try to create something but never get past the first draft.
Not many people know I've started writing books. I've taken different ideas, outlined them, and even started writing. But I keep getting hung up and overwhelmed by the task.
Finally, I found a system that helped me get the job done. I found a simple three-step writing system that helped propel me to writing and self-publishing seven books to date.
However, over the time I have written these books, I have encountered some mistakes I have made and confirmed other authors' mistakes too. These are common but easy to cover.
So, I wanted to share what those mistakes are and advise you on how to conquer them so you can finish your first draft.
3 Common First Draft Writing Mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes. But those mistakes don’t define you or your book. So, let’s just be honest about the three most common mistakes writers make while writing their first draft.
Editing while Writing
This is the most common mistake that keeps writers from finishing their first draft. You start writing but return to the previous line or paragraph to “clean it up” a little.
Yet, the more you do this, the longer it takes to write a 500-word section of your book. So often, you think it’s okay to dig into it a bit, but then our minor edits turn into extensive edits, and you find yourself stuck.
When you are writing your first draft, write it. Don’t go back and edit it. Start writing. Use your research and dig into the craft of putting thought to page. You will come back to edit later.
Failing to Keep Track of Your Progress
So many people lose sight of their goals because they start writing their books and don’t keep track of their progress. They write and write until they get to the middle, when it’s hard, and they feel discouraged.
That discouragement builds because they can’t look back at their progress. Sure, they can go back and look at their written pages, but this can be overwhelming.
One of the most important things you can do to break this mistake is to keep a visual tracker of your progress. I do this with every single one of my books. This way, I can see how far I’ve come and know I can keep going.
You Don’t Set A Deadline
Most people never finish their first draft because they don’t have a deadline. Whether it is because you intend on self-publishing and don’t know how long it will take you. Or because you don’t have a publisher telling you when your book needs to be done.
Either way, writing without a deadline will set you up for failure every single time. And what happens to many would-be authors is that they never finish their first draft because they have no reason to finish.
So, you want to set a deadline. If it is your first book, you can probably write it in a month if it is short and you commit at least an hour a day. However, if you don’t have the time or it will be longer, give yourself no more than three months.
Final Thoughts on Writing Your First Draft
One of the best things I have ever done is to write a book. Sure, it can be hard sometimes, but it is so rewarding to finish your first draft. Then, it is even more rewarding to hit the “publish” button.
After that, every sale is a reward. Every copy of your book that someone orders makes your day. Not because of the money but because someone trusts you enough to read your book to help with their problem.
And that is the key: Someone trusts you to help them with your problem.
You have life experiences and lessons that have taken you from where you were to where you are, and it’s time to share those things with the world. Writing a book is a great way to do that.
And I can guarantee that there are people out there who are standing at the point where you were and need help getting to where you are in life. So, conquer the mistakes of writing your first draft and finish that book.
J.R. Heimbigner is a #1 Bestselling Christian Author on Amazon who writes about faith, family, and writing books. Join his Substack community and learn more about self-publishing and faith today!
Grab his fantastic writing and self-publishing resources on Gumroad today!
Also, if you are looking for more ideas on how to write a book, I have outlined in my most recent book on Amazon how to take your Substack stories and turn them into books. Grab your copy today!
To share one's life experiences and lessons through writing is powerful. Writing is a journey filled with many obstacles and your personal experience of overcoming these obstacles and successfully self-publishing seven books is inspiring.