Getting to the end of the first draft of your novel has to be one of the hardest things about writing. It takes a huge amount of stamina, commitment and drive to do it, and it’s something that beats many people – even those who want nothing more than to write. With this in mind, here are a few tips for getting to the end of your first draft.

Blitz it

One option is simply to blitz through the draft and get it done as quickly as possible so it doesn’t drag out for months with very little progress being made. Events such as National Novel Writing Month can be good for this; it gives you a target and a deadline by which to do it. Your writing might not be amazing if you’re doing it so fast, but at least you’ll then have something there to work with.

Make it a routine

Building your writing into your daily routine can take some of the spontaneity out of it, but when it comes to making progress, sometimes this is necessary. Give yourself half an hour a day (more if you can manage it) where you do nothing but write. Even if you only do 300 words a day, it all adds up eventually.

Skip bits

There’s no rule that says you have to write a complete draft straight away. If a scene is giving you trouble, skip it for now. You can come back to it later, but for now, all you need to do is get to the end of the story. If that means sketching things in briefly so you can sort them out properly later, so be it.

Arrange a reading

Think when you’d like to get your draft done. Set a date. Arrange an event for that date. Invite all your friends and family and tell them you’ll be reading your new work to them. The pressure of having to get it done by that date will hopefully spur you on to the finish.

Go to a writers’ group

Writers’ groups are good because you can support each other and drive each other forward. Plus, they’re more useful when you have new work to share, which can give you the push you need to make progress with your first draft. The feedback you get can be useful too.

What are your tips for getting to the end of the first draft?