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.
I totally understand that fear, Susan. What helps me is remembering that, even though writing can feel difficult at times, I love doing it. And therefore, I'll invite some playfulness to my process so that I remember this is fun and I trust that my intuition and creativity will take over! And that a first draft is supposed to be terrible and make no sense haha :) so glad you are joining us!
I sit on my couch in the dark and write by hand. I like to start with the day’s “lesson” from Alan Watt on Audible and make notes in one notebook, then do about ten minutes of stream of consciousness in a different notebook, then pick up the fiction notebook and start writing scenes. Sounds crazy when I write it out. 😂I also need H2O with electrolytes and coffee! You?
I’m so excited for this experiment/ritual! I’ve been wanting to dive into my second book and the timing lines up so well. Best of luck everyone, can’t wait to follow along and hear about everyone’s progress. <3
I am going to write first thing each morning. I will use a pen and journal dedicated to this ms. I’m going to be precious and also forgiving of myself. I am ready.
I think I'm going to do this, but with a slight twist - I want to finish my first draft that's already halfway done. I'm at 40K, so my ultimate goal is to write 30-50K in November depending on how much I'm going to yap 😂
I'm using today as a practice writing-to-word-count-goal day, maybe I'll post the results tomorrow! Nothing today will be related to whatever fictional madness I begin Saturday, but it feels good to stretch whatever set of muscles these are (which feel a lot different than what I use to make a dozen painstakingly-crafted lines of poetry). Neither is better, just a different part of the body maybe?
Stupid question alert: How do I sign up? I’ve subscribed to your Substack? Is that enough or do I need to sign up to this challenge specifically? The “Join First Draft November” button doesn’t seem to do anything when I click it… Please forgive me if I’m being dense! 🙏🏻
You are all set! Just signing up to the newsletter is all you need to do. Now you will receive our weekly emails and have access to our chat for the accountability threads :)
Approaching this challenge without an outline is the best way to do it! Embrace the mess and lean into curiosity and discovery. A first draft is supposed to be messy, so no need to have it figured out! Just write and see!
So, I started my first draft today. Finished chapter 1 --- 2110 words, excluding the Epigraph and Prologue. I will continue the sprint daily, try not to skip a day. And hopefully, I will reach the 50k milestone at the end of it all. But most importantly, I will be following your directions / guidance --- a sense of yearning + a sense of lack in chapter 1, followed by conflict and drama in the following chapters. Let's see if I could finish Act One by this weekend.
I am so excited! Still deciding which idea to go for, thankful for still having a couple of days to decide. It'll be tricky for me this first week because I'll be traveling for work, and my routine will be fucked up lol, but I'll make it work! I'm really looking forward to this community effort and the accountability that comes with it. Although I have to confess I'm worried about writing messily. I know that's how it SHOULD be, but it is hard in this perfectionist brain of mine.
I have the plot. I have the protagonist. I have the middle and the end. I am stumped about how to begin the story, so I hope this month will help me dive into what I know will be a painful process. You wrote: "Write the forbidden." Those three words spurred me on, and now I'm ready to give voice to what I didn't think would be appropriate. It can always be edited later. Thank you!
Every time I work on first drafts I get so caught up in editing and rewriting every section that my progress becomes a slow crawl. Really excited to do this as a group, I think the shared momentum will help me break that cycle at last!
I’m excited! I’ve spent the last week faffing with where and how I want to write (because I KNOW I will procrastinate on that otherwise l). It’s done now, documents set up, virtual pencil sharpened and my what if premise is floating beautifully around my brain ready to grow some fabulously chaotic wings!
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 🕯️
Perfect! I might copy you
Brilliant!! I am totally going to join you on that one🕯️
I did the same!!
This is a brilliant idea which I will definitely steal
I love this!!
That’s a good idea.
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.
I totally understand that fear, Susan. What helps me is remembering that, even though writing can feel difficult at times, I love doing it. And therefore, I'll invite some playfulness to my process so that I remember this is fun and I trust that my intuition and creativity will take over! And that a first draft is supposed to be terrible and make no sense haha :) so glad you are joining us!
I’m so excited to do this! I’ll be writing in the morning 4 AM, in Notion.
4 AM! You are amazing
I’ve had the ritual for about a year now. It gives me 2.5 hours before my son wakes up lol
Damn! That is badass!
🫂❤️🥰
I am also in the 4am club. Well, sometimes 4:30…
Amazing! What’s your morning ritual?
I sit on my couch in the dark and write by hand. I like to start with the day’s “lesson” from Alan Watt on Audible and make notes in one notebook, then do about ten minutes of stream of consciousness in a different notebook, then pick up the fiction notebook and start writing scenes. Sounds crazy when I write it out. 😂I also need H2O with electrolytes and coffee! You?
Found this just now, commited just now, and just now realised I have to come up with a novel idea in like three days eek
Hopefully, the weekly posts will help give you an idea! Or just write every day and follow your excitement— you never know what could happen!
I’m so excited for this experiment/ritual! I’ve been wanting to dive into my second book and the timing lines up so well. Best of luck everyone, can’t wait to follow along and hear about everyone’s progress. <3
Perfect timing!
I am going to write first thing each morning. I will use a pen and journal dedicated to this ms. I’m going to be precious and also forgiving of myself. I am ready.
Beautiful <3
I think I'm going to do this, but with a slight twist - I want to finish my first draft that's already halfway done. I'm at 40K, so my ultimate goal is to write 30-50K in November depending on how much I'm going to yap 😂
Love it! Here is to a FULL draft by the end of the month :)
PERIOD.
I'm using today as a practice writing-to-word-count-goal day, maybe I'll post the results tomorrow! Nothing today will be related to whatever fictional madness I begin Saturday, but it feels good to stretch whatever set of muscles these are (which feel a lot different than what I use to make a dozen painstakingly-crafted lines of poetry). Neither is better, just a different part of the body maybe?
A warm up is always fun!
Would this challenge work with a narrative non-fiction book? I am halfway through a first draft and completely blocked….
Yes! The language in the weekly newsletter will be geared towards fiction but there is so much overlap. I think it will help you a lot! <3
Great news—thank you! 🙏🏻
Stupid question alert: How do I sign up? I’ve subscribed to your Substack? Is that enough or do I need to sign up to this challenge specifically? The “Join First Draft November” button doesn’t seem to do anything when I click it… Please forgive me if I’m being dense! 🙏🏻
You are all set! Just signing up to the newsletter is all you need to do. Now you will receive our weekly emails and have access to our chat for the accountability threads :)
Oh amazing—thank you! 🙏🏻 Really looking forward to it (also slightly dreading it, but that’s the paradox of being a writer, right?!)
Absolutely lol
I’d like to do this but I’m starting to talk myself out of it because I don’t have a good enough outline yet. Help!
Approaching this challenge without an outline is the best way to do it! Embrace the mess and lean into curiosity and discovery. A first draft is supposed to be messy, so no need to have it figured out! Just write and see!
That’s my tactic anyway! 🤨
I'm so excited for this!
I am not sure if I will be able to reach the 50k milestone, but I will certainly give it a go. I have made up my mind. Maybe that's all I need...
That is all you need in my opinion! The desire to write and the determination to write as much as you can will get you farther than anything else :)
Thanks. Wow! Your response was quick. I am also considering writing directly on my Substack account. How do I do that?
You would just need to create a new post and go from there. If you go to your dashboard, you will see :)
So, I started my first draft today. Finished chapter 1 --- 2110 words, excluding the Epigraph and Prologue. I will continue the sprint daily, try not to skip a day. And hopefully, I will reach the 50k milestone at the end of it all. But most importantly, I will be following your directions / guidance --- a sense of yearning + a sense of lack in chapter 1, followed by conflict and drama in the following chapters. Let's see if I could finish Act One by this weekend.
I am so excited! Still deciding which idea to go for, thankful for still having a couple of days to decide. It'll be tricky for me this first week because I'll be traveling for work, and my routine will be fucked up lol, but I'll make it work! I'm really looking forward to this community effort and the accountability that comes with it. Although I have to confess I'm worried about writing messily. I know that's how it SHOULD be, but it is hard in this perfectionist brain of mine.
It's a weird feeling to embrace the mess at first, for sure! But I promise it gets a little easier each day :)
I have the plot. I have the protagonist. I have the middle and the end. I am stumped about how to begin the story, so I hope this month will help me dive into what I know will be a painful process. You wrote: "Write the forbidden." Those three words spurred me on, and now I'm ready to give voice to what I didn't think would be appropriate. It can always be edited later. Thank you!
Linda, I love this <3
Every time I work on first drafts I get so caught up in editing and rewriting every section that my progress becomes a slow crawl. Really excited to do this as a group, I think the shared momentum will help me break that cycle at last!
Yes, let it be crappy and edit later! Haha, so glad you are joining us!
I hear you!! I'm hoping to free my picky mind too. Good luck!
You too! I look forward to hearing how you get on!
I’m excited! I’ve spent the last week faffing with where and how I want to write (because I KNOW I will procrastinate on that otherwise l). It’s done now, documents set up, virtual pencil sharpened and my what if premise is floating beautifully around my brain ready to grow some fabulously chaotic wings!
omg your enthusiasm is so contagious!! <3 Let's do it!