How many times have you sat at your desk, hands hovering over a keyboard, and watched the cursor blink on endlessly? You have a unique story idea, iconic characters, and an epic world. But now that it’s time to actually write, overwhelm has started to rain down on you.
The good news is that if you struggle with drafting a novel, you are not alone. After all, if writing a novel were easy, everyone would do it!
When crafting a story, many writers love creating iconic characters, epic worlds, and satisfying plot twists. Jumping into the “writing part” may also be exciting and first, until the overwhelm kicks in.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to set yourself up for drafting success. That’s why The Author Conservatory devotes an entire section of our syllabus to drafting preparation in our fiction writing program, that way our students don’t have to fly blind while writing their manuscripts.
Here are several key principles that we teach our fiction writing program students so you can level up your drafting process, or finally finish that manuscript that’s been collecting dust.
What comes before you draft a novel
We’ve seen too many writers jot down a page’s worth of ideas for a novel then jump straight into drafting. It’s tempting, especially if the words start flowing.
Unfortunately, this can lead a writer into challenges when those creative juices fizzle out. This is when most writers experience “writers block” and may give up entirely on a project that felt so promising.
This is why, as a student of The Author Conservatory’s fiction writing program, we don’t just throw you into the “lions den” of drafting. Instead, we walk you through a meticulous and strategic process to develop your project from a seed into a full-fledged novel. For some students, this can take months!
Our students begin by creating a high-concept premise for their novel, identifying foundational elements such as a sympathetic protagonist, believable story goal, and satisfying plot twist. They then move to crafting a character arc for their protagonist, outlining the internal transformation that their characters will go through.
The final steps before drafting a novel in our fiction writing program involve creating a synopsis and an outline, where our students flesh out exactly where their story is going to go.
Here’s an example from one of our recent graduates that highlights why this system works so effectively:
When I joined the Conservatory, I was shocked to take my first-ever full-length novel project from concept to finished first draft… in only six months… The step-by-step process of intentionally focusing on the core pieces of story and building from there penetrated my previous struggles of “but now I know everything that will happen” boredom and gave boundaries to my “pantsing” love. This allowed me to still be creative and discover smaller elements of the story, while giving me a solid road map to navigate from start to finish.
Hannah-Abigail Toth
Effectively constructing a novel is like building a house: first, you have to lay a foundation and build the frame of the house. Most writers want to jump straight into actually writing, but taking the time to build a solid foundation for your novel will allow you to walk away with a stronger first draft.
When are you ready to start drafting?
Once you have finished your novel outline, don’t skip asking for feedback from writing friends or mentors. With multiple sets of eyes on your project, you’re more likely to catch plot holes or easy-to-fix mistakes.
In The Author Conservatory’s fiction writing program, we take a similar approach by taking our students through multiple rounds of feedback on their novel before they start writing. Once instructors determine that a student is ready to start writing, they are finally able to get started.
If you haven’t already, reach out to a friend or mentor—someone you trust to keep you on track and can give you creative insight into your project. Ask them to look over your project and leave feedback on your manuscript. It may be helpful to ask them to address specific aspects of your story, such as the plot structure or character arcs. After going over your outline multiple times and you both feel like the story is well-plotted, then the next best step is to dive into actually writing!
What to NOT expect from the drafting process
- Don’t expect to always have the right words
There will be moments where you have no clue what to write. There’s nothing wrong with simply typing a placeholder and coming back to it later, that way you can keep your writing session moving.
- Don’t expect to always feel confident
Just because you have planned your book out ahead of time doesn’t mean you will always feel like a pro as you write. Believe it or not, even professional authors doubt their abilities and confidence! It doesn’t mean you’re not cut out to be a writer; you’re actually normal. Graduate Victoria Shanks shared “you may not actually like anything that you write over the course of the program; you may wonder if you’re truly meant to keep writing. But when you come out on the other side, you will be equipped to tell your stories your way with skill and power… Trust the process. It works.”
- Don’t expect a stellar first draft
A planned out novel doesn’t make a perfect novel. Our fiction writing program students tell us that our planning process makes them feel more prepared to write the whole book, but that doesn’t mean they have a perfect first draft.
- Don’t expect clarity all the way through
Despite having planned your book out ahead of time, there will be things you didn’t think of ahead of time, or even parts that change. Proper story preparation saves you a lot of time in the long run, but it’s okay to not think of everything ahead of time.
- Don’t expect to love drafting all the time
Writing a novel is fun and exciting, which is why so many authors like to jump right into drafting. But you should expect moments where the last you want to do is pull out your laptop and write. Don’t be surprised, and use it as a sign to practice some creative self-care or reach out to a friend or mentor for encouragement.
How to draft a novel
- Set weekly goals
The best types of goals are measurable. That way you actually can see that you’re making progress and create realistic expectations for completing your novel. Finishing a novel is a daunting task, so break it down into smaller steps. Our fiction writing program students usually set wordcount-based goals (i.e. “write 5,000 words per week”) or time-based goals (i.e. “write for two hours a day”).
- Skip the self-edit
All first drafts are messy, and it’s tempting to want to edit as you write. But this will only slow you down in the long run, especially since drafting and editing utilize different parts of your brain.
- Stay grounded in community
Many writers prefer alone time over being around a lot of people, but no successful writer exists in a vacuum. There will be days when you want to give up or moments where you hit writer’s block. Before you start drafting, connect with other writers. Consider asking someone to be an accountability or encouragement partner to help you stay on track. Student Megan Walters shared “how refreshing everyone is on the community… the instructors see, hear, and care so much.”
- The over-writing & under-writing balance
Some writers pump out thousands of words in a writing session, only to end up cutting most of them in the editing process. Others struggle to clear 50,000 words in their novel. As you write, do your best to balance the two. If you tend to be an over-writer, be intentional with your words and maybe skip the long villain monologue. But if you struggle to write enough, try leaning on the five senses to flesh out your scenes. Once you start editing your draft, you’ll probably end up both cutting certain sections and fleshing out others—and that is okay! Kira Rosengren-Weigner, a 2025 graduate, shared that this approach helped her “[think] about my stories… and [give] every character a reason to be there and every scene a reason to be written.”
- Schedule rest
You’ll never finish your novel if you burn the candle at both ends. In fact, one principle we have here at The Author Conservatory is making sure your writing is sustainable. This might look like scheduling rest days throughout your week to give your brain a break. Also, experiment with activities that actually replenish your creativity so you can come into each writing session filled and inspired.
Join The Author Conservatory’s fiction writing program
The Author Conservatory’s fiction writing program teaches students the mastery of the fundamentals of creative writing, as well as the marketing and business skills it takes to be successful in the industry.
If you want to learn how to craft professional novels and have the marketing skills necessary to actually sell them, we have a resource designed for you.
Our Road to Publishing guidebook provides you with the exact roadmap you need to turn your writing dreams into a reality:
