Every year, we’re lucky to have great sponsors for our nonprofit events. Writing Mastery Academy, a 2021 NaNo sponsor, was founded by Jessica Brody, author of the bestselling plotting guide Save the Cat! Writes a Novel. In this post, Jessica shares her tips for getting words down on the page quickly, aka Fast Drafting:
As an author who writes on more than 350,000 words per year, I like to joke that every month is a NaNoWriMo for me. So with the real NaNoWriMo approaching, I thought I’d share my top 3 tips for writing quickly and efficiently, which you can use to easily smash through that 50k mark this November!
1. You Don’t Need an Outline. You Only Need 5 Things.
As the author of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, I’m used to talking about plot. But as any happy “pantser” will tell you, you don’t have to start a novel with a full plot outline (although you certainly can!).
No matter if you’re a die hard plotter, pantser or somewhere in between, I urge you to, at the very least, sit down and brainstorm 5 things about your main character, your plot, and your world before you begin writing.
Plus make sure to take breaks regularly - and stop if anything starts to hurt!
especially with gift knitting I know it can be tempting to push through it for a deadline, but it’s really not worth causing long term injury. (And anyone knit-worthy should be understanding of that, imho.) Stay well :)
Ever since I made my last post about writing with adhd, I’ve been thinking about what helps me combat certain symptoms.
Problem: Distractions
Solution 1: Let yourself get distracted! Hear me out… my entire writing journey has been spent hearing “stop editing while writing”, “don’t Google that one word you need”, blah blah blah. If googling that one word helps you continue writing then do it! If putting music on and having a dance party gets you in the zone, do it!
Solution 2: Set boundaries for yourself and others. Tell others you’re going to be writing for a set amount of time, tell yourself you aren’t allowed to watch an episode of your current favorite show until you finish your selected word count, etc.
Problem: Executive Dysfunction
Solution 1: For every task you do that is non writing related, write a sentence. Each task completed the higher the sentence count gets. Make a game/challenge of it.
Solution 2: Deadlines, public or private.
I know these don’t work for everyone and they also don’t work 100% of the time. So here are a few more things to try.
The Pomodoro Method/Take breaks often
Breaking up the monotony of doing one thing for too long can be very helpful. This could mean writing for five minutes and then doing something else, this could also mean switching to paper and pen after being on the computer, going to a different room.
Set smaller goals!
This could mean one chapter for some people or one sentence for others. It doesn’t matter how a goal of writing 15 words may sound, getting to mark a task off your list (mental or physical) is sometimes the instant gratification our adhd brains need.
I leave you with this: Your way of doing things isn’t “silly” or “wrong”. If you are having fun and making progress in a way that brings you joy then it doesn’t matter if your process is aesthetically pleasing or not. It doesn’t matter if you’re unorganized or have spreadsheet level skills. It doesn’t matter if your process isn’t like other people or if it mirrors a fellow writers. If it works, don’t stop doing it. If it doesn’t work, throw it out and find something that does!
Are you new to the world of writing? Here are some pointers to consider when starting out your journey!
Define your purpose
A super important first step for any writer is to ask themselves why they are actually writing. What sort of message do you want to put out into the world, what types of stories are you going to tell? Do you want to make people cry, laugh, do you want to inspire them, do you want to shine a torch on important issues, do you want to thrill them or make them feel good?
Familiarize yourself with character arcs
Before plot, there is character! Character arcs are a great way to get yourself started on your writing journey. Learn about internal conflict, misbelief, positive and negative arcs, backstories... Once you know this, the plotting side of things clicks into place much easier.
Understand the basics of story structure
You do not need to be a plot-genius to write a good book. As long as you have a good grasp on your character arcs, and a basic understand of how a story is structured, you’re good to go! It’s great to read about 3-act, 5-act, hero’s journey, and other structures on examples of books you’ve read or films you’ve seen.
Read in your genre
Cannot stress this enough! Every writer should be a reader. It’s so important to read within and outside of your genre, because reading is the best way to learn and grow and improve.
Don’t be afraid to write whatever comes to mind
All writers get stuck into certain parts of their writing, and we all become victims of perfectionism or procrastination one way or another. Don’t let this be a thing to discourage you. What’s important to know about writing is that the more you do it, the more you will improve. So even if you’re writing something for fun, or you’re not entirely happy with the quality, know that actually writing it will help you more than avoiding it.
Did you know I have a free novel plan to get you started on your writing journey?
My Favorite Editing Techniques, As A Writer With ADHD
(These techniques can be used by anyone, though!)
ALT
One of my biggest struggles as a writer with ADHD is editing. I'll hyper focus on writing a piece, and when it's done I’m too impatient to edit. I just want to publish it, NOW! In the past, what I would do is publish the piece, then re-read it and fix mistakes. I knew it was not ideal, but it was the only way I could motivate myself. Here are some strategies I’ve found that can be ADHD-friendly:
Ask someone to proofread your work or do a beta read. It can help to have someone look over your writing. If you are impatient to publish like I am, I recommend finding a proofreader/beta reader BEFORE you finish. That helps me with accountability. If I try to find a beta reader AFTER I finish it, I'll probably be too impatient to find someone.
Listen to your rough draft using Speechify. Seriously, you have to try this one. It's a great way to catch words that you have misspelled.
Print out a copy and edit it by hand. I like this method because it helps slow down my brain. Also it gives me an excuse to use colored pencils or my fountain pen. This is a good strategy if you're someone who likes to scribble. You don't have to use a pen to edit. You can also use fun writing utensils, like crayons!
Use editing software like Grammarly. This is another good way to catch your mistakes. What I like about it is that it can catch the mistakes while you are writing. That's good if you're impatient or impulsive. My only complaint about Grammarly is that the plans are a little expensive. Here are some alternatives to Grammarly if you want to try something different.
A tall ship tutorial for those who made logical career decisions in their late teens / early twenties in the hopes that it makes writing fanfiction about your favorite goobers a little easier.
Today, I bring you a different way I change my document that is more appealing to me than the standard Doc.
For Drafts
first, go to Page Set Up
this is what the default is
For my setup: Margins will change to .5" for top, bottom, left, and right.
this is the page color I chose but it's totally optional.
Then, I change my default font. Here is how to find the ones I like. Go to the font option, then click More fonts.
These are the fonts I love. You can search them or browse for ones you like.
next, i change my first-line paragraph indent to .25"
For Outlining
(and also character profiles, world-building, etc.)
You are going to follow the same steps as above first. The only difference is you don't need to mess with any of the indent settings.
I use boxes as dividers and organizers. To do this, go to Insert > Table > 1x1.
Then, change the border thickness to 2.25pt. I usually have a color palette for these, so I'm choosing a darker brown than the background for the borders. But white paper and black table lines work just as well and are more print-friendly ;)
Next, I change the Headings, Subheadings, and Subtitles. To begin, I am changing my Title heading. I choose my font, how big I want it to be, and then I like using a highlight color as well. Here, I'm using a standard light/pastel color and 18pt font.
Highlight to select this new title. Go to the dropdown menu that says "normal text", hover over "Title", then choose "Update 'Title' to Match". Now you can click that every time with no hassle. And it will begin an outline for you to the left.
Let's make that box within a box! Make sure you are typing inside the first box. Then insert another table. I am going to use a 2x3.
Because this table is more than one cell, you can go to the three dots up top and click "Table Options" to change every table border selected at once. Again, 2.25pt with the same color as before. The cell background color says white but you don't have to change it to match the page color.
You can save both your Heading preferences and page setup as your default style. Every new document you make will use these settings automatically.
I really hope this was helpful and/or interesting!
As always, take what you want and leave the rest. Happy writing!
Things I Do To Make Writing Easier as Someone with ADHD
Talking with my therapist the other day, I realized most of my productivity "hacks" fall into 2 categories: changing things that were made by/set up for people without ADHD OR finding ways to "trick" my brain into doing what I want.
ALT
MODIFYING THINGS TO FIT THE WAY MY BRAIN THINKS AND WORKS
change the setup and format of documents
something about the standard-size paper with the standard-size margins and standard boring font reminds me too much of school work. it's boring and familiar in a way that doesn't stimulate my brain the way it needs to in order to be fully creative.
Everyone will want theirs to look differently but here are the two ways I usually modify my document setup:
The "formatted paperback book" way that I outlined in THIS POST (Statement size paper, .5" margins, fonts like Georgia or EB Garamond)
And the one I don't have a name for but it's so nice to look at: US Letter size, .5" margins on all 4 sides, and the Karla font on Google Docs*. I also use this method with outlining. The tutorial is HERE!
use spreadsheets to organize character variables for brainstorming
this may sounds bonkers but it has done WONDERS for me when brainstorming new story characters. my thoughts are too scattered and i normally can't hold onto brainstormed ideas very well.
i made a spreadsheet of character elements and categories and basically use it as a random generator sometimes.
i work while listening to something. i think most of us do. i have found that the best way to keep my brain focused is to play music and then open a YouTube tab on lower volume of white noise ambiance like wind, rain, or rainforest sounds. That provides a constant so the changing music doesn't feel so uneven and distracting.
along with this, i usually find an instrumental, themed playlist on YouTube. French countryside, jazz lounge, 1950s picnic. You can find just about anything.
if i really want my music (with lyrics), i pick one song per scene and loop it. the consistency not only takes away distractions, but also makes the scene i'm writing more consistent in tone. most of all, it helps me stay engaged and in the moment.
ALT
HOW I (POSITIVELY) TRICK MY BRAIN INTO DOING WHAT I WANT
Reward Systems (that actually work for me)
Normal reward systems for productivity don't work for me. I get frustrated or impatient or let the reward sidetrack me for SO long. Here are some rewards/breaks that work for me.
if i want to use my phone for social media, tiktok, or other scrolling things, I set my timer for 5 minutes. it can take a lot of discipline to actually stop at that timer but sometimes an annoying alarm sound can help or hitting the on/off button (on iPhones) will turn off the alarm AND your phone at the same time.
if my reward is getting a snack, i get it beforehand and put it somewhere in my workspace. otherwise, i will go to the kitchen and get sidetracked for 30 minutes. this goes for most things-- try to get everything you may need or want in your space beforehand. maybe have a written list of usual items.
for a longer break, i do something related to my writing that still gives me a break from the productivity monster. making a playlist for it or finding new music for one, watching (a previously set number of) YouTube videos about the subject or writing craft, drawing a character, creating a fake book cover or poster for it, etc.
separate your "floater" thoughts from the task at hand
i often get thoughts about things to do for the project in the future or ideas for later in the story/outline/scene/etc. But for some reason, adding it to a separate document or in my phone's notes can completely throw off my rhythm and derail my focus. but i HAVE to get it down or i will forget and/or worry so much about trying to remember than i'm not actually focusing on anything.
the only solution i've found for this is physically writing the thoughts or ideas down on paper. something about it being a separate action from typing and a thing i can do so quickly without changing my computer screen makes it easier for me to get it down and keep going. i have a pile of scratch paper and a pen right next to me at all times.
find a way to organize the material you reference while writing that is intuitive and easy for you
i can't have my outline, visual reference/inspiration, AND my draft document in different tabs or windows. i'm not switching through them without being sidetracked or frustrated by how complicated it can get.
the most basic, quick, and free way to fix this is a split screen. Apple laptops and iPads will help you do a full-screen split between two windows. even with the sites i mention below, i always do this.
organizing an outline to reference on a linear document doesn't always work with my brain. i've been trying milanote recently. it lets me create separate pages and organize things like a board with notes, timelines, and photos. the free version may only fit one project depending on how much you have but for my projects (no world-building references needed), the free version is enough.
making a physical copy of it, either on a board or in a binder also works for me. i'm not blindly scrolling trying to find something, it's much more about holding it and muscle memory.
i believe Scrivener also can be used as a board system. it's a one-time purchase and currently there is a discount code if you search "Camp NaNoWriMo offers". They do this every April and November with their events.
ALT
I hope this is helpful or at least a good launch point for anyone (ADHD or not) who needs it! I might make a second one if I think of more.
[ADHD is not a one-size-fits-all thing. This is simply what I do as someone with diagnosed but unmedicated ADHD]
As always, take what you want and leave the rest. happy writing!
Writers have tons of creative ideas, but most of us aren’t scientists. So, how do we make sure that we get the science right in our fiction?
Even if you write speculative fiction or fantasy stories, there’s still some thought that must go into making sure there’s an internal logic to your worldbuilding. A sense of cause and effect. Readers get lost if they can’t easily follow or make sense of your big ideas, but this is especially important when discussing real-world science, and how it might affect our future, or manifest on other worlds.
In the Reading Room today, you'll find a list of books that are perfect for science-fiction and worldbuilding research, to keep you grounded, and give you a great basis for building out sci-fi, fantasy, and future worlds.
