#Rough Draft

Sharing is caring!! Drop your tips below ⬇️🙃 I wanted to share this a few weeks ago before we were well into November (didn't have time to) 🫣🫣🫣 but I figured I'd share it now in case it's helpful 😊💜 Happy writing, happy drafting! Love you all! Xoxo Rain ☔

It’s a rite of passage, honestly.

I mean the good thing about your first draft is your story can’t possibly get any worse! The only way to go from your first draft is up! . . . #writingabook #writinganovel #firstdraft #roughdraft #writing #writingmemes #writermemes

The amount of times I sent another draft with one new paragraph was absurd

The dreaded first page of a pristine (and sometimes expensive!) new sketchbook. I’m forever teaching myself new ways to get over my fear of failure, to get over perfectionism… basically- to get over myself! Do you ever observe how young children create? They grab a paper, slap it on the nearest surface, and get to work. They don’t obsess, self-doubt, or overthink. This act of “ruining” the first page of a sketchbook is a tip I learned from a friend years ago. It takes the power away from the material. It says: “whatever I make can’t ever be worse than this, so now I’m free to begin.” Here are three other ways I shift from Overthinking Mode to Doing Mode: 1.) I use the cheapest materials I can find, usually my kids’ crayons and the nearest scraps of printer paper. 2.) I set a timer and commit to doodling, even if it’s literally for five minutes. 3.) i sketch quickly, and hold my pencil loosely. Messy, loose sketches tap into a different part of me. Extra points for putting on music that totally inspires you. Would you try this? Do you have any other tips for becoming less precious with your process? Let me know in the comments!

Here’s how: 👇 Before I show you, comment ME if you want the full walkthrough (and don’t forget to follow so my DM actually reaches you). Okay: my method is ridiculously simple. Instead of staring at a blank page, I just ask myself a set of specific questions. The answers literally become the plot. I wrote them all down so I can reuse them every time I start a new book. The crazy part? No two answers are ever the same. Which means every story feels fresh, original, and exciting. If you want the list of questions (and the whole method), just comment ME and I’ll send you the info! Happy writing, friend! xo Rachel

first draft problems🫣 when I tell you I LOVE editing, but getting through the first draft (and to the point of editing) is the most difficult part of the writing process for me. I’m a HUGE advocate for sh*tty first drafts 💩 giving myself the freedom to write freely, without expectations of perfectionism the first time around, changed everything for me. Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott is one of the first books I read on writing, and it is chalk-full of practical tips and lessons — one of those being the art of sh*tty first drafts. Highly recommend checking it out!

This is how I fixed up my first draft and while it was a lot of work, my second draft was waaayyyy better off. I deleted characters and chapters and figured out my world building/lore. This might not wrinkle out all problems, but it should work to highlight and solve the main issues with your novel! #writingtips #writinganovel #authorsofinstagram #writingcommunity

A quick scroll through some recent sketches.

This challenge is a way for me to get rid of art block, get more confident in my line work and fill a sketchbook for the first time ever . . . . . sketching, learning to draw, drawing from scratch, beginner artist, art practice, daily drawing, drawing challenge, 100 days challenge, sketchbook, art process, improving drawing skills, creative journey, learning new skill, slow learning, simple life, cozy routine, self improvement, starting over, creative practice, drawing basica

Am I the only one who writes like a dump truck? I practically pour everything onto the page, and when I go back, I’m missing words, my spelling is rough, and because I was an English learner, I sometimes find made-up words and backward syntax. But honestly, I love writing this way. It’s like turning on a faucet and letting all the gunk run out so you can get to the heart of the story faster. It does make for some messy revising, though. Are you a messy drafter or a slow and polished writer? #writersofinstagram #amwriting #writingprocess #roughdraft #writerlife

First attempts at writing aren’t always very mind blowing… practice makes perfect, I guess ☺️#writersofinstagram #writer #writing #writerscommunity #writingmeme #practicemakesperfect #practicemakesprogress #firstdraft #book #progress #improvement #writingmotivation