Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips

#37: 5 Questions to Ask Before Writing a First Draft

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Jan 26, 2021

Discover key questions to ask before starting your first draft, such as defining your protagonist and genre, determining the story's point, setting, and plot. Learn how to craft a stronger, more efficient first draft by doing the heavy lifting upfront.

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Introduction

00:00 • 4min

Exploring Protagonists, Genres, and Themes in Story Writing Process

04:02 • 3min

Exploring Fundamental Storytelling Questions for Effective Writing

06:48 • 3min

Character Development, Plot Engagement, and Key Points for First Drafts

10:11 • 3min

In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through five questions to ask before you start writing a first draft. Here's a preview of what's included:

[01:25] The purpose of a first draft is to tell yourself the story. The purpose of a first draft is NOT to be perfect or to have everything 100% figured out.
[01:50] By doing some of the important work or heavy lifting upfront, you CAN write a stronger, more efficient first draft that feels more like a second or third draft. But to do that, you need to know the answer to five really important questions.
[03:15] Question #1: Who is this story about? Who is your protagonist?
[04:40] Question #2: What's the main genre of this story?
[06:10] Question #3: What point are you trying to make with this story?
[07:20] Question #4: Where and when does this story take place?
[08:40] Question #5: What happens in the story's plot?
[10:30] Key points and episode recap.

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Links mentioned in this episode:

Episode Freebie: 5 Questions to Ask Before Writing a First Draft (PDF)
How to Choose the Right Genre for Your Story (podcast and article)
5 Questions to Help You Flesh Out Your Characters (podcast and article)
3 Ways to Uncover the Theme of Your Story (podcast and article)
How to Figure Out the Big Picture Shape of Your Story (podcast and article)

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