4 Things I Do Before I Write the First Word of a Novel

Author Marybeth Mayhew Whalen shares the four things she does before writing the first word of a novel (that's worked 11 times so far).
The post 4 Things I Do Before I Write the First Word of a Novel appeared first on Writer's Digest.
https://www.writersdigest.com/4-things-i-do-before-i-write-the-first-word-of-a-novel

#WriteBetterFiction #WritingTechniques #firstdrafts #novelwriting #writingtechniques

Tips for Overcoming the Blank-Page Blues

Author Andrew Welsh-Huggins shares a few tricks he's developed over the years for overcoming the blank-page blues.
The post Tips for Overcoming the Blank-Page Blues appeared first on Writer's Digest.
https://www.writersdigest.com/tips-for-overcoming-the-blank-page-blues

#WriteBetterFiction #WritingTechniques #BlankPage #FinishingFirstDraft #firstdrafts

Evie McGee Colbert is a national treasure.

#LSSC #StephenColbert #FirstDrafts

How First Drafts Are Like Cauliflower

For me, revising a rough draft for the first time is akin to eating cauliflower: I get that it’s a good thing, but it’s not appealing on any level. It’s bland, it’s boring, and sometimes it’s just plain disgusting. But it’s also hard to avoid.
https://writerunboxed.com/2025/09/26/how-first-drafts-are-like-cauliflower/

#CRAFT #Process #editing #firstdrafts #revising

Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Censoring Yourself

The WD team has witnessed many writing mistakes over the years, this week’s mistake is writing in censoring yourself and your unique voice.
The post Writing Mistakes Writers Make: Censoring Yourself appeared first on Writer's Digest.
https://www.writersdigest.com/writing-mistakes-writers-make-censoring-yourself

#BeInspired #TheWritersLife #WritingHabitsandPractices #Censorship #firstdrafts
@indieauthors

You never meant to share it.
The draft you abandoned.
The voice that didn’t quite work.
The story that still lingers.

Inside Beneath the Edits, writers are posting the pages they left behind—raw, real, and unfinished.

No polish. No pressure. Just space to be honest.

👉 https://www.darkholmepublishing.uk/group/beneath-the-edits/discussion

#BeneathTheEdits #ShadowSphere #WritersCommunity #UnfinishedStories #FirstDrafts