Set a Target Date to Begin Your First Draft

Perhaps you’ve been caught in the “outline liminal zone” – a place where endless plans and outlines and plotting abounds, but somehow it never leads you to actually begin your first draft!

If that sounds familiar, don’t fight your urge to plan. It’s part of your creative process!

But DO plan to start. Get really concrete about it, too. Mark a date on your calendar when you’ll start drafting. Be sure to pick a date that is reasonably in sight. Honor that date when it rolls around, even if your outline isn’t complete – and even if you only write a few sentences to get started.

You can always zig zag between your outline and manuscript! (Remember, also that a lot of the magic happens in the writing – wonderful creative surprises that could never be planned.)

You’ve got this, writers!

Karin 🙂

Looking for more writing tips? Check out my book The One Week Writing Workshop: 7 Days to Spark, Boost or Revive Your Novel