First Draft Challengeby Scribe Media
Guide

25 book writing tips for finishing your first draft, from planning to the last page

Finishing a book takes a plan, a habit and a way through the days when it is hard. These 25 tips are grouped by where you are: before you start, building the habit, drafting, getting unstuck and finishing. Pick the three that fit where you are this week.

By Scribe MediaPublished November 1, 20266 minute read

On this page

  1. Before you start (1 to 5)
  2. Building the habit (6 to 11)
  3. While you draft (12 to 18)
  4. When you get stuck (19 to 22)
  5. Finishing (23 to 25)

Before you start (tips 1 to 5)

  1. Know who the book is for. Picture one reader with one problem. Every decision gets easier.
  2. Write one sentence that says what the book does. "This book helps [reader] [do something] so they can [result]."
  3. List your chapters before you write them. One idea, step or argument per chapter. It will change; that is fine.
  4. Set a target length. Divide it by your chapter count to get a rough length for each chapter. How long a chapter should be has a table.
  5. Collect your stories first. A list of examples and experiences under each chapter makes drafting much easier.

Building the habit (tips 6 to 11)

  1. Write at the same time every day. The Scribe Method recommends at least an hour a day, or 30 minutes if that is all you have.
  2. Set a daily word goal you can actually hit. A goal you meet every day beats a big one you miss. See how to set a daily word count goal.
  3. Write in the same place. Settling in takes less time when the place is familiar.
  4. Remove the exits. Phone in another room, email closed, one document open.
  5. Track your words. Seeing the total grow is motivation on the days nothing else is.
  6. Plan for missed days. You will miss some. Decide now that a missed day means a short session tomorrow, not a lost week. Here is how to restart.

While you draft (tips 12 to 18)

  1. Start with the chapter you know best, not necessarily chapter one.
  2. Do not edit while you draft. Mark problems with a note like [FIX] and keep going.
  3. Leave placeholders for research. [CHECK DATE] keeps you writing; look it up later.
  4. Write the way you talk. Explain each idea as if to a friend across the table, then tidy it later.
  5. Use a simple chapter shape: a story, the point, how to apply it, and a takeaway.
  6. End each session mid-thought, with a note on what comes next, so tomorrow starts quickly.
  7. Try short timed sprints on hard days. Writing sprints explains how.

When you get stuck (tips 19 to 22)

  1. Find the real cause. Stuck days are often about not knowing what to say next. Find the cause, then fix it.
  2. Talk it out. Record yourself explaining the section, then write from what you said.
  3. Skip ahead. Write a different chapter and come back.
  4. Use a prompt. A specific question gets you writing; see the nonfiction writing prompts.

Finishing (tips 23 to 25)

  1. Finish the draft before you fix it. A complete, rough draft is worth more than three polished chapters.
  2. Let it rest before you revise. Distance helps you read it as a reader would.
  3. Plan the next stage. Revision, feedback and editing come next; after the challenge covers what to do once the draft is done.

Start here: pick one tip from "Building the habit," put a 30-minute writing block in your calendar for tomorrow, and keep the appointment.

Common questions

What is the best tip for writing a book?

Write a little every day. The Scribe Method recommends at least an hour a day, or 30 minutes if that is all you have. A steady daily habit is easier to keep than occasional long sessions.

How do I start writing a book for the first time?

Decide who the book is for and what it will do for them, list your chapters, then start with the chapter you know best. You do not need to start at chapter one.

How do I keep going when I lose motivation?

Lower the bar for the day rather than skipping it: write for ten minutes, or one paragraph. Track your words so you can see progress, and tell someone your goal so you are not working alone.

Should I edit while I write?

Not in the first draft. Editing while drafting slows you down and makes it harder to finish. Mark problems with a note and keep going; revision is its own stage.

Sources: The Scribe Method, chapter 13, How to Create Your Book Writing Plan (at least an hour a day, or 30 minutes), read November 1, 2026. The other tips were written by Scribe Media. Published by Scribe Media.