Simcoe NaNoWriMo Tip # 1

Don’t fall into the trap of editing as you go.

Pro tip: first drafts are SUPPOSED to be messy.

It won’t make sense to anyone else--but here’s the thing, it doesn’t need to.

I’ll say that again, louder for the ones in the back (or the writers out there with their fingers jammed in their ears singing la la la la!).

Your. First. Draft. Doesn’t. Need. To. Make. Sense.

The dots won’t all connect. In fact, there will be whole sections missing when you’re finished. Think you’re drawing a cat? Guess what, the ears will be missing by the time you’re done with it. The dialogue might be choppy, and the description might be vague, off, or missing entirely.

The good news--that’s OKAY! Because no one is going to read it. The first draft is not the one that will be bound and placed on bookstore shelves or shared online, and probably not even shared with a close friend.

The important thing is that it makes sense to you. When you read it through, you’ll be able to see the bones of the story, the breadcrumbs to the genius you’ll shape it into when you edit, and edit again.

So take a deep breath and remember that writing is simply a layering process, and the first draft is just you telling yourself the story. Just because you didn’t get something right on the first pass doesn’t mean you’re bad at it. It means you’ll keep working at it, fine tuning the words, the dialogue, the plot, and the characters, with every draft.

“To shape the clay, you have to first make the clay.”

When it comes to NaNoWriMo, done is better than perfect. So when you finish a chapter, or a scene, or a paragraph, resist the urge to tinker with it until it’s something worthy of being quoted on the next viral BookTok video. Have your inner editor sit in the corner with a kids menu and tell them their turn comes later.

For now, keep moving forward and let that unchecked imagination of yours run wild.

-- Emily Nakeff

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This writing tip is part of a series of writing tips, tricks, and advice during the month of November as we celebrate National Novel Writing Month. Join Essa Public Library and five other libraries across Simcoe County as we offer a variety of programs and events to help writers complete their novel. Participating libraries are also offering space for writers to work, free wifi, writing resources and more. Attend an online or in-person event or drop by a Simcoe NaNoWriMo location and enter for your chance to win a Writer's Basket full of writing goodies. Participating libraries include: Barrie, Essa, Innisfil IdeaLAB and Library, New Tecumseth, Tay, and Clearview.

For a full listing of programs and events during National Novel Writing Month, visit the Essa Public Library's online event calendar.