Sometimes that first draft just draaags ooon.

Sometimes we don’t even know why. Maybe you don’t know what steps to take to make the writing of that first draft pick up some speed.

Allow me to be of some assistance…

Let me make one this clear before we continue…I am 100% in favor of a writer going at their own pace, the pace that suits their creativity and process best. But hey, challenges are fun and require us to push ourselves. Or maybe you’re in a season where you feel slow and you’re looking for a way to speed up the drafting process. That’s what these tips are for. 🙂 Let’s go…

01. The pomodoro technique

I’ve talked about this technique a lot…and yes, I’m going to talk about it some more. 😉 This is a really great productivity hack that helps you focus and get more work done, while still making sure you take breaks. The starting point for this technique would be to set a timer for 25 minutes, work for that long, then take a 5 minute break. For me personally, I’ve been playing around with these times, sometimes working for 30 minutes and taking a 10 minute break. I suggest starting with the 25-and-5 and see how that works for you before experimenting.

02. Don’t go back to edit

Silence your inner editor! Going back to edit a lot will greatly slow down your drafting process. When you sit down to write, try not to do more than a quick reading of your past few paragraphs to get back into your story. That’ll help speed up the process.

03. Don’t let anyone see first draft

Write freely. Sometimes imagined expectation can cramp our creativity and prevent us from creating like we were meant to. This could slow you down as you worry too much about what other people may think about your story. The first draft is for you and for you only. Use that thought to set yourself free to create freely.

04. Write every day, even if it’s a little

Generally I don’t recommend writing every day, because for some people it doesn’t fit their creative process. But if you’re set on speeding up the drafting process and just getting this thing done, then write every day. Even if it’s just a little. Fine those snips of time through your day to just get a few words down. Maybe even wake up ten minutes earlier to write in the mornings. Those mini writing sessions can add up to a lot.

05. Sometimes you’ve gotta give up other things

What is writing more important to you than? More important than your favorite Netflix show? More important than that novel you’re reading? More important than scrolling Pinterest for an hour? Sometimes you have to give up other things you enjoy for the sake of your story. Because you don’t always have extra time to write, so you have to make time.

Another thing you can do is try distraction-free writing softwares, like OmmWriter or Calmly Writer.

I hope these tips will help you cultivate a better writing routine. More focused so that you can get that story done. Because the world needs that story. 😉

More posts you might like:

• 10 TIPS TO STAY PRODUCTIVE WORKING AT HOME
• 5 THINGS ABOUT GOAL-SETTING YOU NEED TO KNOW
• HOW TO WRITE FASTER WITH THESE 6 TIPS
• HOW TO HAVE A PRODUCTIVE WRITING SESSION EVERY TIME

What are your first draft tips?