Chapter 1: Overcoming the Blank Page

When it comes to writing a novel, facing a blank page isn't my greatest challenge.

The daunting aspect of novel writing isn't merely the empty page. Authors from Terry Pratchett to Ernest Hemingway all share a common piece of wisdom: just write the first draft, no matter how imperfect it may be. The key is to let go of your fear of that blank space and simply create.

As Terry Pratchett wisely stated, "The first draft is just you telling yourself the story." Hemingway bluntly put it, "The first draft of anything is shit." With this in mind, I found a wealth of encouraging advice on overcoming the trepidation associated with the initial draft. The consensus is that the quality of your first attempt doesn't matter; what's crucial is getting your ideas down, whether on paper or digitally.

Neil Gaiman's comforting words resonate with me:

"For me, it's always been a process of trying to convince myself that what I'm doing in a first draft isn't important. One way you get through the wall is by convincing yourself that it doesn't matter. No one is ever going to see your first draft. Nobody cares about your first draft. And that's the thing that you may be agonizing over, but honestly, whatever you're doing can be fixed. For now, just get the words out. Get the story down however you can get it down, then fix it."

These thoughts helped me overcome my initial worries about the blank page. In fact, I discovered that I often had an abundance of ideas ready to fill that space. I could write for hours, producing that initial rough draft.

However, the true challenge emerged once I reached the end of my writing. The daunting task of editing loomed before me. The words “I have to fix it” echo in my mind, making the editing process feel far more intimidating than starting anew.

The common advice suggests putting the draft aside for a while—ideally several months. I generally find this easy; I simply set it aside and move on to new ideas, plotting and writing fresh content. Yet, after some time, I inevitably feel that nagging urge to pull the draft from its resting place and begin the editing process.

This is where my struggle lies. Once I take it out, I am faced with the responsibility of improving it to a shareable quality.

It has been over two years since I completed the initial draft of my most recent novel. I tucked it away for a few months, focused on other writing projects, but eventually, I felt the need to revisit it and start editing.

When I reopened the digital file after four months, I began to take notes chapter by chapter, marking necessary changes and identifying areas for improvement, from merging characters to researching simple facts, like how far a horse can travel in an hour.

I convinced myself that these notes would lead to meaningful changes, yet I ended up hardly altering a word. I felt overwhelmed.

The manuscript has sat untouched for another year now. I keep telling myself I lack the time to edit, but deep down, I know that's just an excuse. If I can find time to binge-watch Marvel series, I can certainly find time for editing.

This situation isn't new to me; I have several drafts that have never progressed past the first version. The closer I get to the editing stage, the more I see the flaws in my work and doubt that anyone would want to read it. I often feel it’s too late to salvage these manuscripts, convincing myself that I should simply move on to the next idea and improve my writing skills. However, I never reach a point where I feel ready to tackle the editing process.

As Phyllis Whitney aptly said, "Good stories are not written. They are rewritten."

This year, I've resolved that avoiding editing won't help my growth as a writer. To enhance my skills, I must become proficient at editing.

Two strategies have helped me begin this journey.

First, I enrolled in a writing course this year, which emphasized critiquing others’ work and sharing my own drafts. Initially, I hesitated, but I eventually shared the opening page of my first draft. Before doing so, I took the time to edit it. With a limit of just 250 words to share, the task felt manageable, and as I edited, I realized my draft wasn’t as dreadful as I had feared.

This sharing experience provided dual benefits. I received valuable feedback about what worked well and what didn’t in my writing, and the positive responses were a great morale boost! Additionally, reviewing the work of my peers helped me recognize that my writing held its own merit. It also allowed me to identify common issues that appeared in both theirs and my writing. Observing how others received feedback offered me insight into my own work.

Critiquing other writers’ pieces allowed me to adopt a more objective perspective on my draft, treating it with the same kindness I would afford to someone else's writing. Although I'm still in the early stages of editing, my confidence has significantly improved.

So, my first step has been to review others' work and consider the edits I would suggest, while sharing my own work in manageable portions to solicit feedback.

Chapter 2: Embracing the Editing Process

The first video, You Have a Crappy First Draft. Now What?, provides insights on embracing the initial draft and guiding writers through the editing journey.

The second video, What to do after you finish your first draft, discusses the next steps after completing your draft, focusing on effective editing strategies.