Hi writers,
Your novel writing challenge is almost here! Before we start writing and dive into our weekly questions, I want to set you up with a few tips and reminders. I’m calling it the First Draft November Starter Kit. Save this as a reference to come back to when you’re feeling stuck or need a boost to keep you moving.
First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. Subscribe to get updates in your inbox!
Setting yourself up for success
→ Build your system. Where do you plan to write? Whether it’s your kitchen table, a corner of the library, or the Notes app on your phone during your lunch breaks, choose a space where you can reliably show up. Don’t worry about it being perfect; consistency matters more than aesthetics.
Consider choosing tools that feel frictionless as well. Some writers swear by Scrivener or Google Docs, while others use pen and paper. Pick one and commit to it for the month so you don’t waste time tinkering.
→ Create a daily rhythm. To hit 50k in 30 days, you’ll need to average about 1,667 words per day. That can sound intimidating, but broken down, it’s roughly an hour of focused writing, or a couple of 25-minute sprints. Don’t underestimate sprints! Some writers work well in these bursts throughout the day, especially in a first draft.
Decide now: When will I write each day? Morning, lunch break, late at night? Put it in your calendar like an appointment.
→ Use the questions. Remember our guiding principle: All novels start with a question. Each week, you’ll get powerful questions that will both generate words and deepen your understanding of your story. Let the question lead you, even if the scene feels rough or unexpected. That’s where the discoveries happen!
My favorite first draft tips
→ Turn off your internal editor. This month is about momentum, not polish. Everything you write either belongs in the story or will guide you to what does. There are no mistakes here.
→ Trust your intuition. Don’t worry too much about logic or perfect continuity. Writing fast lets your creativity lead. Your story will come together eventually. Trust your sweet little writer brain to get you there.
→ No rewriting! We’ll get to that later. For now, let it be messy. Remember, momentum, momentum, momentum.
→ Stay consistent. Manageable, daily goals matter. Try not to leave more than a day or two between writing sessions so that the story stays vivid and rich inside you.
→ Read novels. In the first lesson of Amy Shearn’s “How to Finally Get Started on that Novel” workshop1, she emphasizes, “Find books that you adore, and then think about why you love them. Look at how they are made.” I love this advice so much. If craft books don’t resonate, honestly, great. At this point in the process, more information might bog you down. But reading novels can offer inspiration and further guidance on how to shape your story. And it’s fun!
→ Write the forbidden. This is one of my favorite pieces of advice from Alan Watt, author of The 90 Day Novel. When you’re blocked, lean into the scenes that feel too scary, surprising, or cringeworthy. That’s often where the energy is. And remember: No one but you is reading this draft right now. Go wild, be unhinged, get weird.
We officially kick off on November 3, but if you’re eager, feel free to use the 1st and 2nd to play around. Jot down scenes, capture ideas, or just warm up your writing muscles. Take a breath, gather your tools, and get ready to write with speed, intuition, and courage. I’ll be back here with your first guiding question on Monday, and together we’ll leap into this draft.
Yay!
The Novel Writing Workshop is a fantastic companion piece to First Draft November. And thanks to the folks at The Forever Workshop, it’s free to access all month long! No code or subscription needed, just go here and enjoy.
I just got a new candle for my writing area which I’ll only light while writing to give my brain a signal that it’s time to lock in 🕯️
I very fearful of doing this project. But I like the challenge for my brain and to see if I can actually produce a story line and complete this task. Fear will sit with me throughout this process and of course lots of coffee! Thank you Kailey for doing this.