#80: Student Spotlight: 5 Lessons Learned From Writing a First Draft
Jan 10, 2023
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Guests on the podcast share valuable insights on finishing a first draft by understanding genre frameworks, battling writer's block, using the 'show, don't tell' writing advice, and testing ideas before writing. They also discuss the importance of having a writing community and embracing the outlining process.
Understanding genre frameworks can greatly enhance the writing process and lead to a more structured narrative.
Utilizing 'magic revisions' and daily writing exercises can help overcome writer's block and boost productivity.
Crafting scenes that show rather than tell, by incorporating body language and delayed reactions, can create a more immersive reading experience.
Deep dives
Kelsey's Breakthrough with Flexible Outlining and Genre Understanding
Kelsey from Philadelphia shares how module four of a novel course completely transformed her writing journey. By learning to create a flexible outline with key plot points specific to her genre, she moved from aimless writing to a structured, creative process. Understanding genre elements and weaving them into her story, coupled with the ongoing outline adjustments, greatly enhanced her writing experience and revitalized her narrative approach.
Stephanie's Battle with Writer's Block and the Magic of Revisions
Stephanie, a YA action adventure writer, delves into battling writer's block post-parenthood and finding a solution through daily writing exercises. Her major takeaway from the course was utilizing 'magic revisions,' allowing her to move forward swiftly while preserving creative momentum. This approach helped her generate progress efficiently, enhancing her productivity amidst time constraints.
Angela's Enlightening Experience with Showing Versus Telling
Angela, a space opera novelist, highlights a pivotal realization from the course regarding showing versus telling in writing scenes. Understanding that engaging storytelling involves intertwining body language, thoughts, and delayed reactions to evoke emotions, she refined her narrative approach. By learning how to craft scenes that immerse readers emotionally and intellectually, Angela enhanced her writing, creating a more captivating and immersive experience.
Cara's Journey Towards Structural Cohesion and Thematic Development
Cara, a contemporary romance writer, reflects on her transformation from struggling with structuring her narrative to embracing an outline-based approach. Engaging with thematic considerations and plot structuring, she laid the groundwork for a more cohesive and purposeful storytelling journey. Embracing the course's emphasis on structure, she navigated her outlining process with clarity, setting a strong foundation for her writing endeavors.
Casey's Revelation on Key Scenes and Plot Structure for Enhanced Narrative Flow
Casey, a fantasy and romance writer, shares her breakthrough in understanding the significance of key scenes within a structured plot as learned from the course. Grasping the inner and outer genre dynamics, she adopted a balanced approach to plotting, enabling smoother story progression. By incorporating key scene structuring and genre layering, she transitioned from a stagnant writer to a more guided, purposeful storyteller, enhancing her narrative's coherence and consistency.
In today’s episode, I asked five of my Notes to Novel students to share their biggest lessons learned while working through their first drafts. Here’s a preview of what’s included:
[02:00] Kelsey Evans on how understanding her genre’s framework made the biggest difference in her ability to finally finish her first draft [06:35] Stefanie Medrek and her favorite advice for battling writer’s block [11:00] Angela Haas on the popular writing advice to “show, don’t tell” [16:00] Bree Cox on how she used her outline to test out ideas before writing [20:30] Kara Kentley on the importance of having a writing community [28:20] Casey Drillette on how she embraced the outlining process (as a pantser!)
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