The  MECHA GENE 

I finally did it! After staring at my notebooks and computer for i don't know how long (it felt like a milenia though i can tell you that) i finally  finnished the first draft of my novel. Hold your applause "criket noises", person in distance "get on with it". ya okay i deserved that. Any way before this whole beautiful mess happens to me;  wow, looks like fun right. I meen who dosen't love chopping their book into peices and rearanging them while trying not to have a break down, sorry lost the happy. Ahem, back on topic. Writing my first draft was an amazimg experience one  that i erge all first time writers like me to go threw. You'll feel way more satisfaction completing one first draft than abandonning twenty half first drafts (trust me i was there) plus if you have one first draft you can turn it into something better, like i don't know YOUR VERY OWN PUBLISHED BOOK. So in this article i will be  sharing tips that  helped me stay to  motivated and capable  to finish my first draft.

 1. Write an outline.

Seriously you have to do this it will make your writing experince so much easier. I didn't have an outline when i started (or at least not a thorough one) and i regret it more than i regret giving up on the first novel i tried to write. "sigh''. Trust me if you don't have an outline they'll be at least one chapter that dosn't fit with you plot and you'll have the issue of  not having enough or having too many words. I have two of those three and am not looking forward to having to fix it. So if i couldn't be clearer, WRITE AN OUTLINE. If you are unsure how to write an outline do not worry a quick google or pinterset search will give you plenty of examples on how to do so.

2.Scheduals don't work

this is somthing i learned after many, many, many attempts at writing scheduals. Writing is like a realationship you can't fit it into  tiny convent boxes. When you write you should do it to finnish scenes, not word counts or fifteen minute timers. If you try to stick to a very stict schedual chances are you're going to stress yourself out to the point were you can't get anything done. When you can't keep your plan going you end up fealing like a failure, wich is not healthy for some one whos trying to be creative. Of course some planning is key for completing your goals, but you have to set yourself up with realalistic deadlines. Writing a perfect and insipered chapter everyday is not realalistic.  I was usally happy getting one to four chapter done a week. I found it best to try  and write  somthing everyday wether it's a quickly joted down idea or 5000 words.

3.Write lists.

This is somthing I did so often that I  filled up and entire notebook. Never under estamate the power of a good list (espically if you skipped your outline:/). A list is a great way to get your creative  jumbled, crazy laced, just plain weird thoughts sorted out. Having trouble writing a character? Make a list of what you know about the character (no detail to small!!!!!!) and help answer some of your own questions. Not sure what order of events happen in this  chapter? Make a flow chart of them (okay I  know that's techinally a chart not a list but just look the other way will ya?). Having trouble with characters names? Make a list of names. You make a list! you make a list! EVERYBODY SHOULD MAKE A LIST!!!!! Sorry lost myself for a moment.

4. Look at how far you've come instead of how far you have to go.

This is somthing every human being has done at some point. Look at how much more  you have to do instead of how much you've already accomplished. When you look at the hills you have to climb over with out acknowldgeing the ones behind you your robbing yourself the satisfaction and joy of completing. When you write a first draft people tell you to "Not look back" When they should be saying "Don't go back". Look at the moutains behind and celervrate your vicotries but don't re-fight those battles. I was guilty of this many times while writing my first draft and it took a toll on me, i felt like i wasn't getting anythin done when in reality i was succeding better than i thought i would.

5. Write somthing everyday

No i do not meen write five chapters every day. Just write somthing. It doesn't even have to be for you book (though you shouldn't ignore your book). Write somthing wheter it's a chapter, a paragraph, a funny line of dioluge, or a scribbled down idea on a napkin. Keep the words flowing.

6.If you hit a block acklnowldge it, forget it, then move on.

How many hours have you spent just sitting there thinking about how much time you wasted not writing rather than actully writing to make up for it. This is a dangerous slope that many fall down. The key is in the title, "move on!" Forgive yourself for yesterday, theirs nothing you can do about it "Tommorrow is so far away" uhem, sorry P!nk moment. Free yourself from you mistakes and move on!!!

7.It does not have to be perfect

No first draft was ever perfect! Literaly none of them were. "The first draft is just telling the story to yourself", thank you Terry Prachet. First drafts are messed up,  error filled, balls of creative stink. On a more oppomistic note the first draft is just you, your ink, and the papper. Cherish the freedom of no editing while you have it.

8. Don't look back

Barely if not ever look back. Don't judge the chapter move on to the next one. This is the fastes ways to get it done.(the only exspection is if you change your mind and want to switch up your plot)

9.Break every rule.

Read every writing rule carefully, then smash them into the dirt and move on with your novel.

10. Try and stay consisntatn (optional)

Your second draft is when you go back and fix everything but you can make your second drafts easier while you writing you first. Try and deicide( and figure out) who the characters are. Don't make a character scared of dogs half the book and then not for the second half. "I can just fix it in the second draft" is the mantra you will regret saying.

11. ASK, YOUR, SELF, WHAT IF??!?!

okay guys this is a big one two many times while we're writing our precious first drafts we're to scared to think outside the box. That. is. bad. You need to let loose and let your creative juices flow. Your character is generic and bores even you some times? Throw in a hidden fear, weird habit, or silly quork. The adveture dragging on like a ten hour seminar on this histery of  "Fonts"? Add an componet of; magic, wild machinery,crazy animals, pychotic killer little girls(okay the last ones not for everyone) to fire things up.

12. Realize it wont take for ever.

I know somtimes it feals like it but unless you have horribel time managment, are writing a literal billion words, or are trapped in time limbo by an evil witch it will not take a thousand years to finnsih you first draft. Somtimes (espically when your about two- four months in) you'll feal like your yusing alll this time but going nowere. You'll feal like abandoning your first draft (shuder). There is actully a quick solution to this, imagen yourself a year from now. Do you want to be holding a copy of your; Book? manuscript? screenplay? or staring at your computer wandering why you ever gave up your first draft. The first one write. (haha horrible pun)

13. words improove.

THe more your write the better your writing gets. Shocker i know.  When writing you first draft(espicaly if you're a fairly  new writer) you might feal like your  words are garbage or the equivalant of human fertilizer. Well i have some good news. It gets better. Your words will start to bloom like flowers are vines from your pen.  You may worry about the (first attempt wich has to be awfull) well then theres the second draft.

Great someone actully read to the end of this list.(or just skimmed to the bottom, I do it to!) Anyway may your ideas come easily and your words flow freely, also, GET BACK TO YOUR NOVEL YOU GROUP OF PROCRASTIANTERS.  A bad first draft is better than no first draft at all

Get out there and Write!!!