by Beth K. Vogt, @bethvogt

“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.”

—Anne Lamott (1954-), American novelist & non-fiction writer

I have writer friends who are “pantsers.” They follow any story they write wherever it leads. When all is said and done, they produce terrific novels with beginnings, middles, and ends – in that order.

I have other writer-friends who are dedicated plotters. If there’s a technique to help them figure out their stories – a chart or a book or even a video – they’re going to utilize them before they write a single word of their novels.

And then there are those writers who like to do a little bit of both—flying by the seat of their literary pants and taking time to plot a bit, too.

Some of us like to dive deep into our characters and understand who they are and why they do the things they do before we start writing. Others just need the first line. Others need a chapter by chapter outline.

But no matter the process, there comes a time when every writer has to stop “pantsing” or plotting  or “plantsing” and write the story. To do that, we have to accept the fact that our first draft isn’t going to live up to the amazing story we imagined.

But that rough draft – no matter how wretched it is – is the all-important first step to every book we’ll write.

So how do we start writing when we’re facing the reality of “terrible first efforts,” as Anne Lamott says?

1. Create a playlist for your book. Include songs that represent your characters. If you’re writing a historical novel, choose music from that time period, and use the melodies to find your writing groove.
2. Watch the clock. Writing is hard work even if we’re just sitting in a chair. And writing is even harder when the words aren’t working for you. So don’t lose track of time and stay stuck in your bad writing. Set an alarm and take hourly breaks. Make time for exercise or to meet a friend for lunch and get encouraged. Writers need to eat, too!
3. Forget about editing. Accept that this draft is going to be bad. If “bad” is too harsh for you, then how about accepting that this first draft is going to be less than perfect? It’s okay. Accept the reality and don’t try to edit it. Not even a little bit. I’m an editor, so I’m not only telling you this as a writer, I’m speaking as an editor, too.
4. Remember good writing is the product of rewriting. And there will be time for rewriting … and rewriting … and rewriting. But that time is not now.

There you have it: four tips for dealing with a bad first draft. Next time you’re frustrated with your “terrible first efforts,” pick one of these tips and keep writing.

Things I Never Told You by Beth K. Vogt

It’s been ten years since Payton Thatcher’s twin sister died in an accident, leaving the entire family to cope in whatever ways they could. No longer half of a pair, Payton reinvents herself as a partner in a successful party-planning business and is doing just fine—as long as she manages to hold her memories and her family at arm’s length.

But with her middle sister Jillian’s engagement, Payton’s party-planning skills are called into action. Which means working alongside her opinionated oldest sister, Johanna, who always seems ready for a fight. They can only hope that a wedding might be just the occasion to heal the resentment and jealousy that divides them . . . until a frightening diagnosis threatens Jillian’s plans and her future. As old wounds are reopened and the family faces the possibility of another tragedy, the Thatchers must decide if they will pull together or be driven further apart.

Includes discussion questions.

Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Now Beth believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” Beth’s first women’s fiction novel for Tyndale House Publishers, Things I Never Told You, releases May 2018. Beth is a 2016 Christy Award winner, a 2016 ACFW Carol Award winner, and a 2015 RITA® finalist. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. A November Bride was part of the Year of Wedding Series by Zondervan. Having authored nine contemporary romance novels or novellas, Beth believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Novel Rocket and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people, and their youngest daughter, Christa, who loves to play volleyball and enjoys writing her own stories. Connect with Beth at bethvogt.com.