Lightning Drafting Downside

I tried lightning drafting and finished the first drafts of five (5) books. However, I am now left with EXTENSIVE revision and editing. So, for those soon-to-be writers or writers looking for a quick first draft, my suggestion is DO NOT lightning draft.

During a lightning draft, for instance, an author rushes to get their story on the page. You might type: INSERT fight scene here or include dialog with just a name of the speaker only so that you keep on typing.

These shortcuts require going back through the skeltonized material and fleshing out and at times even rewriting scenes.

Had I slowed down the first drafts, the process might have taken twice as long; however, with this route, it's taking a great deal longer than the process would have had I slowed down the first draft and ended up with a close-to-final version in the first place.

Instead of taking perhaps one and a half to two times as long, this technique has resulted in taking three to four times as long.

From one writer to another, I highly recommend NOT lightning drafting. It's doing double duty and creates additional prolonged revisions.

Once this current series is complete, my goal will be to complete stronger first drafts not lightning ones.

Back to revision. Onward!

In Need of Some Destuckification

I'm sure almost everyone has gotten in rush and has gotten stuck while taking off a shirt or blouse. This morning, after setting the clock for 5:00 AM to get up to write, that's where I am writing-wise. Stuck.

While sitting here, focusing on the next scenes before me on both projects (Project A, Novella and Project B, Novel), I contemplate why it is that I'm stuck.

Why am I stuck?

From mulling over my situation of Stuckification, there are two reasons, one for each project, and the reasons aren't too complicated.

For Project A, the Novella, the scene I'm writing contains something pretty bad happening to my heroine, and I can readily see that I'm holding back. I like her. Even though the story and the need for conflict calls for that something bad to happen, I care about her and an reluctant for her, and me as the writer of the scene, to experience the bad.

For Project B, the Novel, I'm winding up this first book in a series. Even though I know I'll begin the next book and will continue with the story and with the same characters, I seem to be holding on to this one. I'm enjoying and loving the story and writing this first book so much, that I don't want to let it go.

Okay, I have the why's worked out, so what can I do to be able to become unstuck or destuck?

To get past being stuck, I'll try the following:

• For Project A, I'll use a Lightning Draft technique and make a note, [MAKE MORE INTENSE, MAKE WORSE FOR HEROINE], and move on. When I come back to this scene in the second draft, this scene will have to be written. There's not going or getting around it, BUT in order to finish the first draft, I need to continue on.
• For Project B, immediately after writing the final scenes, I'll use Cathy Yardley's Rock My Plot method and create index cards for the possible scenes for the next book. There will be no pausing or downtime, just a diving straight into the the second book, so that I don't have to leave the story or part with the characters I've grown to care about deeply.

Using these two strategies, if all goes well, I will become destuck, and my forward motion on both projects will continue.

Lightning Drafting

Short on time? Feel like if you don't get that book out of your head or your head is going to pop? [Please note, Lightning Drafting has a downside in that extensive revision is required and is no longer a recommended process.]

While I've been Fast Drafting, I learned from Cathy Yardley's Savvy Author's Course, Writing Your Lightning Draft with Cathy Yardley, that there is an even faster way to draft.

While Lightning Drafting, you flat out get the book out.

If loves scenes slow you down you type in your text, [INSERT LOVE SCENE HERE], then keep on going.

You don't edit, you don't slow down, and you don't let research, more challenging scenes, etc., hinder your speed.

For research, you make a note in the text, such as [RESEARCH POISON DOSAGES], and continue on.

If you decide to make a change to something earlier on, you insert something like [CHANGE PARTNER TO FEMALE COP], then from here on out, he's a she. Later, when the first draft is out, you go back and expand and fill-in during your second draft. 

Cathy Yardley has an upcoming Lightning Draft course this fall, starting September 3rd and running through December 3. In the class, you get the benefit of her Rock Your Plot experience, as well.

Here's the Savvy Author course description: 

In three months, Cathy Yardley can help you plot and write a novel… and give you the tools you need to repeat the process.

If you want to be a full time writer, especially in today’s publishing climate, you’re going to find that productivity is crucial. “More books” equals “more sales” as both traditional and indie publishing learn that new books boost the numbers of previous ones.

If you want to increase your productivity (and teach your muse to show up when you do) this course will help you: 

1. Set up for writing a “lightning” draft: build a foundation for your characters and make sure your plot points are in good shape before diving into the draft. 
2.  Learn to create a “container” of space, time and attitude to ensure you’re writing at a regular rate, and creating a support network to ensure you keep you on target. 
3. Get the motivation you need to keep going as well as guidance to help you get through the “stuck” parts.
4. Identify and negotiate any fears or self-sabotage that crop up, as well as identifying your writing process.

 In three months, you’ll have the rough draft of a genre novel completed and ready to revise.

After years of struggling to get books out, I would highly recommend this route. So, if your considering getting a book out, Lightning Drafting might just be the way to go! [After lightning drafting an entire series, I have concluded that getting the book out, with a stronger draft, is MUCH more preferred. Otherwise time-intensive revision is required. Thus, I cannot recommend lightning drafting.]