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Overview of Write Out Loud
If you need help determining where to start or are at a crossroads in your writing process, I recommend Write Out Loud. The 212-page book is divided into six sections. Each section tackles the critical parts of the book-writing journey. While each section offers valuable tips and insight, the first section, Introduction: Your Story Matters, explores your reason for writing a book, overcoming fears, and building an author persona. She even tackles the debate about when a person is considered an author. Nakashima states, “An author is someone who writes a work with the intention of putting that work through a formal publishing process.”
While the entire book is full of insights on how to write a book, I paid particular attention to the second section, Write and Never Look Back. Since I used to struggle at the beginning of my book-writing journey, I enjoyed reading Nakashima’s advice on They Call it a Rough Draft for a Reason, The Trick to Getting Started, and Staying Motivated to Write Everyday.
The best part of the book was…
The most satisfying part of the book was when Nakashima wrote, “So, how do I force myself to write every day? I don’t. I force myself to go through my routine every day, and I force myself to recognize my progress as progress every day.” Boom, there it was! For weeks I have been feeling behind schedule and disappointed in my progress in writing my third book. But after reading, Write Out Loud, I’m back on track.
Before closing out the book, Nakashima inspires readers to share their book with the world by building an author platform. She explains that an author platform is a stage where an author’s brand sits publicly. An author platform includes how authors promote themselves and their work to their target audience, both online and offline.
Conclusion
Looking to elevate your writing career or finally get that book written? Look no further than Write Out Loud. This book promises to give you the motivation and drive to see your writing projects through to the end. So step up your writing game and achieve your dreams with Write Out Loud.
Writing your first draft can be a very daunting experience. It can feel like you need to get it perfect or your work is not good. Trust me; we’ve all been there. However, your first draft only needs to be that– a first draft. It is something to build and work on; no pressure is needed.
Before you start writing, your first question might be, “How do I write the first draft of a book?” To answer this question, I suggest creating SMART goals.
Your next question might be, “What do I include in my first draft?” This post outlines everything you need to include in your book’s first draft for fiction and nonfiction.
Read on for more.
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.
What to include in a first draft: fiction
Fiction writers have plenty of freedom when it comes to their first draft. There is no limit to your imagination; you can write about whatever you choose.
However, a first draft always needs some key features to ensure you have the makings of a good story. So let’s check them out in more detail below.
In your first draft, you will need:
Setting
Characters
Story structure
Tone and theme
Setting
One of the most important parts of your story is the setting. The story’s setting is a great way to portray a theme, motif, or message you want to get across. The setting is just as important as your plot and characters in making reading your story an immersive experience for a reader.
In your first draft, you should explore your setting and make sure its role in your story is clear. You need to ask yourself:
How does the setting move the story forward?
Do the characters relate and respond to their world? If so, how?
Does the setting influence the decisions and actions of the characters?
Characters
Before you start the first draft, you likely have a vague idea of the characters who play important parts in your story. It’s important to develop your protagonist, antagonist, and side characters.
All of these characters should be rich and fleshed out. Create profiles for your characters that outlines every part of their life. Flesh these characters out and make them into people readers will like, dislike, and be interested in.
In your first draft, you have an excellent opportunity to explore each character, learning their strengths and weaknesses, how they make decisions and everything that makes them who they are. This will help you learn how to use them to make the plot move forward.
Story Structure
It is okay for your first draft to be rough, but it does need to illustrate your overall plot. It needs to have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Of course, that is not to say that you cannot change the plot in future edits. This is certainly possible, but your first draft still needs to work through the main plot as it stands clearly.
One of the best parts of a first draft is that it gives the writer a clear vision of the plot and what works and doesn’t. You will find plot holes you may not have seen while creating the plot through the writing process. It’s okay if the plot naturally changes as you write your boo.
Think of the first draft as a test drive for the overall story, and fully immerse yourself in creating that journey for the reader.
Tone And Theme
The tone of your work will take shape on its own as you write. You can try to set the tone you want initially and carry on with creative exploration until you stumble upon the tone that best fits your story. One of the most fun parts of writing is watching a story unfold before your eyes.
What to include in a first draft: nonfiction
Nonfiction works need to have clearly outlined points, messages, and facts. Let’s check out the details of what to include in your first draft of nonfiction below.
Research
A significant portion of the nonfiction writer’s work is research. Therefore, during the prewriting stage, gather as much research as possible before you try to write your first draft.
Understanding your message
Here, your first draft is about exploring what your message is and how you can best convey it. So, You don’t need to worry about writing it in chronological order; you can write whatever part of the book you want first. The most important thing here is to ensure all your points are written down and your message is coherent.
Of course, you will still need an introduction, a conclusion, etc., but you can save these for last to focus on the main bulk of the work.
Here are some more general tips for writing your first draft.
Don’t fear failure or struggle
A good book was not written in one night with a few swishes of a pen. This means that one draft will not be enough. You may need to write many before your book is finished. This is good because it means your work is refined and you are improving as a writer. Try to enjoy the journey of writing the book. Don’t only focus on the end goal. Don’t let the fear of failure or struggle stop you from enjoying the process.
Ignore your inner critic
Your inner critic is an important voice, but not when writing your first draft. This part of the writing process is about being playful and creative exploration. So, let go of the inner critic and let your writing flow freely.
Ask for feedback
Feedback from publishers and other writers, even for your first draft, is invaluable because they will be able to help you iron out non-urgent problems and provide insight into what they think the story or message is about, who the characters are, etc. This will be useful for other drafts.
Final thoughts
Your first draft can be a daunting idea, but I hope this article provides useful insight into what to include, what to let go of, and how fun it can be to start writing your book.
How many times have you heard the phrase, “work smarter, not harder?” I’m guessing you’ve heard this slogan dozens of times. But sometimes, working smarter seems easier said than done.
As a creative entrepreneur, I’m sure you have a lot you need to get done. So it’s easy to think you have to get it all done at once. When I first started my business, I was so excited to see my dream come to life. I found myself seeing every task as urgent. It wasn’t long before I had to return to a few of the efficiency strategies I used in my corporate life.
Fast forward to today, I have more client assignments, more tasks, and less time. Working smarter, not harder, is more critical now than ever if you’re anything like me. If you need a few tips on working smarter, not harder, here are five ways to be more efficient.
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase using the links.
Don’t start before you plan
First things first – if I don’t make time to plan, I waste loads of time. I know a lot of people who see planning as unnecessary, especially to the creative mind who wants to flow freely. But the secret to getting things done involves planning. So if you want to get more done, try planning.
Of course, it might seem impossible to plan when creativity will strike. Don’t wait for creativity to strike. Schedule time on your calendar for writing, researching, filming, and all the other components of the content creation process. Planning will keep you on track and ensure that you meet your goal.
Work in smaller bits
The idea of tackling a big project can be overwhelming. When I talk to people about writing a book, some of them admit that the idea of writing a book from beginning to end seems complicated. The best way to get to the end of big projects is by breaking them up into smaller bits.
By breaking up my larger project into smaller bits, I can focus on one part at a time. In addition, this approach keeps me motivated to get each step done. As I check off each smaller task, I gain momentum and feel inspired to get the entire project done.
Master the art of delegation
Let’s not argue on this one. You have a lot of work to do. However, some people have the skills you need to tackle some of the tasks on your desk. For example, if you are a writer, you could consider hiring someone on Fiverr to tackle the research phase of your project. You could also hire a virtual assistant to vet clients for you before you accept projects. By leveraging the time and talent of others, you could significantly increase your productivity.
Fight the itch to multitask
Too many creatives work like circus jugglers. We create videos, write content, have a full-time job, and tackle multiple client projects simultaneously. Rather than working on one thing at a time, we try to multitask. An article by NPR exposes the myth of multitasking. We often think we are getting a lot done because we are so busy doing many things. Unfortunately, this affects efficiency. Instead, focus on one task at a time.
Using a timer to complete tasks
It’s easy to get carried away with the tasks we enjoy. But, ironically, it is also easy to spend lots of time on tasks that we don’t want. An effective way to maintain efficiency is to set a timer for tasks. For example, suppose you have scheduled one hour in the morning to respond to your community or four hours for blog writing. Set a timer on your phone that will alert you when the time is up. This approach will help to ensure that you do not spend too much time or too little time on tasks.
Becoming more efficient doesn’t happen overnight. Therefore, make sure you extend grace to yourself when you have not as productive days as you’d like. Keep working, keep creating, and keep inspiring those who are watching your story unfold.
But for those wanting to write a novel, I suggest using a novel-writing guide like, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need, by Jessica Brody.
Full of insights and tips on storytelling, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need is a self-help book that offers writers a fresh perspective on how to write a novel.
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.
My Introduction to Jessica Brody
Before reading Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, I was a fan of Jessica Brody. I first met Jessica when I took one of her courses called Productivity Hacks for Writers. As a life-long learner of all things related to productivity and how to get things done, I bought the class to see if I could add a few more weapons to my arsenal.
I did not know I would find an instant connection with Jessica. It was like finding my long-lost productivity sister—finally, someone who speaks my language of change and possibility. Girlfriend, welcome home!
So, when it came time to read Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, I was all in. I knew Jessica would offer easy-to-follow instructions into novel writing. Like her courses, Jessica’s book reads like a therapy session with your favorite writing coach. All I needed was a hot cup of ginger tea, my favorite writing notebook, and an open mind ready to follow the process.
What it Means to Save the Cat!
In the book, Jessica encourages the reader to use 15 story beats as part of a three-act story structure to write a book. The methodology comes from Blake Synder’s Save the Cat! Writes a Screenplay: The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need. Synder encouraged screenwriters with unlikeable main characters to have the person “save the cat” as a way to get viewers to like the main character.
Not only does Jessica takes the reader on a journey through three acts: Act 1 – Set up your world; Act 2 – Add conflict; and Act 3 – Resolve the dispute, but she explains the 15 essential story beats along the way.
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel is 320 pages long. Jessica arranged the book into 15 chapters. In each chapter, she explains each beat of storytelling and helps readers explore questions about their novel ideas. The book is designed to appeal to both plotters and pantsers.
As a writer who embraces change, I was immediately drawn to the book’s message. I love the structure and guidance the book offers.
Key Lessons Learned from Save the Cat!
While the entire book is full of insights on how to structure a story, here are a few lessons I learned:
The Save the Cat Beat Sheet (Chapter 2)
Jessica acknowledges that writing a book can be a daunting task. However, the use of her beat sheet helps the reader to avoid plotting problems from the start. As a visual learner, I appreciate Jessica’s approach to seeing how my story could unfold.
Dude with a Problem (Chapter 8)
In this chapter, Jessica highlights the importance of adding ordinary characters overcoming extraordinary obstacles. She brings this point to life by examining stories like The Martian, The Firm, and The Hate U Give. Jessica’s best advice, “If you plan to write a dude with a problem story, don’t forget to add an innocent hero, a sudden event, and life-or-death battle.”
Save the Author (Chapter 15)
According to Hutchinson, since the learning process is different for everyone, learning to write a story using 15 beats could be confusing. In this case, she advises the reader to start with the Five Foundation Beats, which are:
Catalyst
Break Into 2
Midpoint
Break Into 3
All is Lost
The key point to remember: No matter where our novel-writing adventures take us, we can all be storytelling heroes.
To those who argue the book doesn’t provide enough instruction, I would say look again. Not only can the book be used to write a novel, but writers can use the information to revise an unpublished manuscript to ensure better flow and tighter storytelling.
As with any self-help book, Save the Cat! Writes a Novelwill not write your story for you. It’s up to you to go through each chapter and work through every beat of your story.
However, I am such a firm believer that I plan to apply the structure to writing my first fiction novel scheduled for release in 2022.
If you need additional help, there are lots of Save the Cat resources available. I recently highlighted The Board, which comprises the 15 beats of the Save The Cat!® Beat Sheet.
Another valuable tool I’m using now is the Save the Cat Storytelling Webinar hosted by Jessica. The webinars feature live instruction and you can review the recording after the session.
In Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, Jessica guides the writer eager to learn how to tell great stories. Once again, Jessica has inspired me through our common language of change and possibility.
Have you ever wondered what obstacles there are in writing a book? Before writing my first book, I never could have imagined the highs and lows I would experience in writing a book. But I learned and quick.
This post outlines what I experienced and how I overcame obstacles in writing my next book.
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.
Obstacle #1 – Figure out my ‘goal’ for writing book #2
My reason for writing Time to Refresh was clear: Show readers how I renewed my mind following my third job layoff. At the time, I wasn’t concerned about making money, seeing my book in stores, or making the bestseller list. All I wanted was to get my thoughts out of my head and organized into a book.
Since the first book, I know the importance of incorporating SMART goals in the book writing process. Besides, I researched book marketing by reading, The Book Marketing Auditand learned about setting goals based on the costs associated with producing a book. The Book Marketing Audit outlined the following categories which I considered in writing my new book:
Glory and fame – The satisfaction of seeing my book on bookshelves, read by book clubs, or honored by literary organizations.
Build a fan base – Answering the call made by Time to Refresh readers to write something new and just as satisfying.
Earn a certain amount of money per year – Catapult my new writing career into an annual salary.
Building my brand for my business – Before finishing my book, I started my own writing business to help companies and people write better content.
Break-even – Make enough money to cover the cost of writing, producing, distributing, and promoting my book.
Time to do the math
I decided on two goals: (1) Break-even; and (2) Earn a certain amount of money per year. Why two goals? First, my decision to choose break-even helps me take in the same amount of money to produce my second book. Second, once I reach my break-even goal, it would be nice to add any profits made from my book’s sale as part of my business income.
But first, I need to determine the costs to publish my next book. After doing research, my estimated expenses for book cover design, editing, formatting, printing, and book launch marketing and public relations will be between $3,650 and $7,750. Also, I plan to factor the royalty fees associated with print and ebooks on:
Despite being laid-off when I wrote my first book, I still had a full schedule with family, church, and community activities. During the book writing process for book #2, I have two new responsibilities: (1) business owner and (2) community college instructor.
So how do I find the time to write? Here’s my current formula:
Use a writing journal: I’m using a journal this time to track both all writing and non-writing tasks needed to complete my book.
Schedule writing sessions: I schedule time on my calendar to write for a minimum of two hours per day.
Eliminate unnecessary distractions: Email and social media can wait until after I finish writing.
Plan for other distractions: It’s hard to put your family on hold during the book writing process. My schedule has enough flexibility to take care of my commitments involving family and friends.
Track my word count: I didn’t do this last time, but I plan to keep track of my daily word count as a motivator and gauge to monitor my progress.
Obstacle #3 — Creating a book production plan
As I mentioned before, my only goal with book #1 was to finish writing and publishing book #1. For my next book, I created a book production plan using Trello. One note about my plan: one size does not fit all. My project fits my needs and includes having a:
To-do List – I like to keep track of tasks I am working on.
Book Marketing Plan – This plan outlines my book launch plan, publicity, media, and marketing tactics.
Word Count Tracker – Before each of my writing sessions, I determine how many words I want to write using a word count tracker.
Writer at work — Creating the perfect workspace.
I wrote my first book standing at my kitchen island. Every morning after my workout, I would spend two hours writing in my kitchen. I know most people think writing in the kitchen is a bad idea, but I could write during a time of day when everyone was out of the house. Sometimes I wrote more than two hours and in places other than the kitchen, but mostly all of my writing occurred while standing.
Since the first book, I have a new writing space equipped with a standing desk and all the supplies I need to get the job done. Here’s a list of supplies to consider for your writing space:
I have my plan in place, and now I am ready to start outlining and gathering research for book #2. Whether the plan works or not is yet to be seen. But I’m excited and ready to go.
If you are writing your next book or your first book and have questions, let me know if I can help.
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Bonus tips for writing your first draft 
