Chelsea Biddiscombe
asked
Jennifer Ashley:
How do you complete the first draft of any of your books? I'm an aspiring writer working on my first novel, but I'm having trouble getting the first draft complete because I keep going back to edit what I've written knowing it could be better. It's like a vicious circle! Any advice would be so greatly appreciated!
Jennifer Ashley
Oh my, it took me years before I could write a complete manuscript. Like you, I kept going back to the beginning and rewriting, revising, sure I could do better. Over and over again.
The trick is to allow yourself to be "bad." Perfection is not a requirement of a rough draft. No one will see it but you. I have a friend who says that you should write the first draft "fearlessly," and she's right.
The first draft is about the story, not the writing. Allow yourself to have half-finished sentences, clunky prose, awkward transitions, and stilted dialog. Close your eyes, give in to the story inside you, and write what you see. You'll have plenty of time after the first draft to go back through, clean up your prose, and make it pretty (as I like to say). You have to release the editor in yourself to make progress.
That said, I do know authors who revise as they write, but at some point, you have to let go of what you've already written and forge ahead. It will still be there when you get done!
The trick is to allow yourself to be "bad." Perfection is not a requirement of a rough draft. No one will see it but you. I have a friend who says that you should write the first draft "fearlessly," and she's right.
The first draft is about the story, not the writing. Allow yourself to have half-finished sentences, clunky prose, awkward transitions, and stilted dialog. Close your eyes, give in to the story inside you, and write what you see. You'll have plenty of time after the first draft to go back through, clean up your prose, and make it pretty (as I like to say). You have to release the editor in yourself to make progress.
That said, I do know authors who revise as they write, but at some point, you have to let go of what you've already written and forge ahead. It will still be there when you get done!
More Answered Questions
Becky
asked
Jennifer Ashley:
I've read quite a few of your historical romance novels, I picked up Guardian's Mate the other day and began reading it. My first in your paranormal line. My question: The collars...when the Shifters turn into their respective animals, does the collar expand and then contract when they return to human form?
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more