Hi everyone
I'm currently on my first draft of a novel I'm super excited about telling the world about. The planning stage of it went well except the 1st draft is feeling like such a long draft from start to finish. Please could anyone list a few points on how they survive the struggle.of the first draft. Thank you.
Gah! You never think you're going to finish! If you have a plan, the chapters seem to rack up so slooowly, even if the pages are full of action.
I'm afraid...it's normal.
Personally, I have targets. Chapter 15's the main one: half way. After that you're on the downhill run. Everything speeds up because you're busting to get the thing finished and you know you can do it.
The first quarter's enjoyable, the second's damned hard work, in the third it gets easier and the final quarter? You don't really want to end it, though you know you must.
If you're in, or through, the second quarter, you're almost there! It get's easier - honest - until you're almost at the end.
Keep the faith :)
For me it's remembering not to be in a hurry, just accepting that the whole thing is a journey rather than a race to the finish.
Listening to classical music and hoping that the genius of the great composers rubs off on me.