"The Gentle Pen" - First Draft

It’s Time to Begin: Writing Your First Draft (Deep Breath... Let’s Go)

You’ve made it through the prep work.

You’ve defined your why. You know who you’re writing for. You’ve chosen your genre, created your outline, set your goals, carved out a little writing nook, and maybe even brewed a cup of tea that feels like a lucky charm.

Now, there’s just one thing left to do:

Start writing.The first draft.The messy, magical beginning of something real.

📚 The First Draft Isn’t Meant to Be Perfect—It’s Meant to Exist

Let’s say that again for the people in the back:

The first draft is not supposed to be good.The first draft is supposed to be written.

Think of it like pouring sand into a sandbox before you build a castle. This is the step where you get all your thoughts, emotions, and half-formed brilliance out of your head and onto the page.

There will be run-on sentences. Repetition. Characters who randomly change names halfway through. That’s okay. You’ll fix it later.

Right now? You’re just writing.

🧭 Use Your Outline—but Don’t Be Afraid to Wander

Remember that outline you created? It’s your roadmap. But road trips are allowed to include detours.

Sometimes your characters will surprise you.Sometimes a new idea will appear mid-sentence and demand your attention.Sometimes a scene you were sure about just doesn’t feel right once you’re in it.

Let your creativity stretch. Trust your instincts. You can always come back to the plan—or make a new one. That’s the beauty of the first draft: freedom with a foundation.

⏳ Give Yourself Permission to Write Slowly (or Quickly)

You don’t need to write your book in a weekend. And you’re not behind if it’s taking longer than you thought. There’s no deadline fairy looking over your shoulder with a stopwatch.

Whether you write 100 words a day or power through 5,000 on a Sunday, every word is a step forward.

Writing is like planting a garden—you might not see flowers right away, but the seeds are growing. Keep watering them.

🙈 Don’t Look Back (Yet)

It’s so tempting to go back and reread what you wrote yesterday. But try not to. Not yet.

Editing as you go can slow your momentum and invite the inner critic to the party way too early.Instead, keep moving forward. Get to the end. Then you can go back with a red pen and a fresh perspective.

Your goal right now? Momentum, not mastery.

🫶 You’re Not Alone—Even When It Feels Like It

The first draft can feel lonely, like you’re shouting into the void. But you’re not alone. Every writer you admire has been exactly where you are—staring at a blinking cursor, wondering if it’s any good.

Spoiler alert: it doesn’t have to be. Not yet.

What matters is that you keep going. Word by word. Page by page.

Final Thought: Done Is Better Than Perfect

One day, you’ll hold a finished manuscript in your hands and barely recognize the first messy version that started it all. But you’ll be grateful for it—because without that first, raw, imperfect draft, there wouldn’t be anything to polish, shape, or share with the world.

So go ahead. Take a deep breath.Open your notebook. Or your laptop. Or your napkin at the café.And start.

Your story is ready. And so are you.

With Gentle joy,

Liv

💬 How do you feel when starting something new? Nervous? Excited? Let me know in the comments—we're in this together. 💛

#FirstDraftFeels#WriteWithoutFear#OneWordAtATime