How To Finish Your First Draft
How To Finish Your First Draft
How to finish your first draft involves conquering distraction, perfectionism, and procrastination.
Writing a book is thrilling—until it isn’t. You start full of inspiration, but somewhere between chapter three and “The End,” distraction creeps in, perfectionism takes over, and procrastination steals your time.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. The first draft is the most critical step, and also the hardest to finish.
But here’s how you can push past the mental clutter and get it done.
1. Distraction
Distractions are the enemy of momentum. One moment you’re writing, the next you’re deep in a rabbit hole, scrolling your phone, checking out social media or side-tracked by some other research.
Create a dedicated writing space, turn off notifications, and try writing sprints. Set an alarm clock for 25 minutes and write without stopping. You’ll be amazed at how much progress you can make when you permit yourself to focus.
2. Perfectionism
Perfectionism is not your editor—it’s your enemy
Your first draft doesn’t need to be perfect. It doesn’t even need to be good. It just needs to exist.
Think of your first draft as a piece of clay: you can’t sculpt a masterpiece without something to shape. Do not revise the same paragraph ten times. Write it once, move on, and return to polish it later.
Give yourself grace—your future self will thank you for just getting the words down.
3. Procrastination
Beat Procrastination with structure and micro-goals.
Procrastination thrives in vague goals. Saying “I’ll write this week” is too open-ended. Instead, set specific, small goals: “I’ll write 500 words in two hours and I’ll complete this before lunch”, or “I’ll finish a 2000-word Chapter 7 by Friday.”
Reward yourself when you hit those goals—whether it’s a favourite snack, a walk, or a guilt-free Netflix episode.
Writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep your pace steady.
4. Your Why
Reconnect with your why.
When the grind wears you down, remind yourself why you started this journey. Is it to share your story, help your business, inspire others, or finally say “I wrote a book”?
Print your “why” and stick it near your writing space. Every time you feel like quitting, look at it. Let it be your anchor.
Finishing your first draft isn’t about having more time or better talent—it’s about building a habit, being kind to yourself, and showing up consistently.
So take a deep breath, open your document, and write the next sentence. You’ve got this.
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Marji Hill
Author and Coach