Write Better, Write Faster, With This One Hack
Here’s a hack to help you write faster and better in first draft. This maybe particularly helpful for discovery writers though outliners can use it too. The thing is when we start a chapter we are most vulnerable to doubting our ability to write the chapter. This may lead to procrastination, which can lead to all kinds of bad habits. Scrolling, raiding the fridge with abandon , too much coffee, watching bad streaming series, anything but writing.
So, to get you started. Don’t just discovery write the chapter. Discovery write a little summary of the chapter before you write the actual chapter..
Write a paragraph or two or three and maybe some dialogue in the tone of the chapter around the characters you think might be in the chapter and what they’re doing. Write whatever comes into your head.
Revise as you write it. Try to get down what you want to happen in the chapter. Write some dialogue if it comes to you (it often does to me when I’m trying to write this).
YOU CANNOT SPEND LONG ON THIS.
Ten or fifteen minutes. No more. Do it right after you’ve finished the last chapter.
You’re really focusing on what happens in the chapter so this is mostly plot. However, if you’re going to bring in a new character you can add a bit of description of the character.
Write any notes to yourself that might help. For example, “the character is angry in this chapter. Make sure you show the anger build as the chapter goes along.”
Remember, this is for your eyes only. You’re writing this to yourself. You and you.
You’ll be surprised how this helps you write a better and faster chapter.
