Sarah’s Rules of Writing Your First Draft

#1 Stick to a basic word editor.
Close down all other programs every single time you sit down to write. The only programme open must be Word (or Pages on a Mac) – no email, no Internet and definitely no Facebook. Try not to use word processing fancy packages like Scrivener they are just more distractions.


#2 Write an entire scene in a sitting.
It takes a while to get into a scene. You will fidget, move stuff around, make coffee, clean the garden, make toast, reread your notes. The good material comes once you have got this out the way. Don’t break your flow once you find it.

#3 Don’t discuss your book with anyone until your draft is finished.
Talking is not writing. Instead of telling people your stories your challenge is now to move them into the written form. This rule is also to keep your own project sacred. You will find that everyone is ‘writing a book.' Well, YOU are doing it so no need to talk about it.

#4 No selfediting or revising the previous day’s work.
This is the single most important rule that will get you to the end of your book. Don’t look back. Once you start writing, there is no rereading your previous day’s work. Just keep moving forward until you have finished the entire first draft. Your aim is to get your word count up. You will end up changing most of it in your second draft anyway.

#5 Do not read any similar books to yours for the entire duration of your writing process.
Your book is not unique. There are millions of books out there. You are bringing your own voice and life to this ageold story. Reading other’s work is going to confuse you and make you judge your own story. You will want to write like them. Avoid this.

#6 Get clear on your book and your chapters (or scenes) before you write.
Don't start until you have (most of) your scenes roughly plotted, so you understand the arc and flow of your story.

#7 Don’t change your story.
There will come a time when you wonder why on earth you chose this story, this angle when there are so many better ones out there. Well, there are not better ones, only distractions. This is your story – tweak, refine and improve – but stick with it to the end.

#8 There is no such thing as Writers Block.
Really. That only kicks in when you have a massive advance to write your 7th novel and no ideas.

#9 There is no such thing as good or bad writing.
I can’t stress this enough. It is not the most talented writers who get published. It is the most disciplined and tenacious writers who get published. Your writing style is your own, and you will find readers who enjoy it or an editor who can clean it up later.

#10 There is nothing you can’t fix in a rewrite or second draft.
This really speaks to rule #4 That’s why I don’t want you to edit or revise your work each time you sit down to write. Leave it for the second draft.

There is no right or wrong way to write a book.
Okay, this is not a rule really, more of an observation. I have worked with writers on so many books that sometimes I have to throw the rulebook out the window. A recent writer who got a publishing deal spent eight years writing about her adventure in Tibet. A businessman last year threw his book together in four months using an Excel spreadsheet and an assistant. Some books only come together in the editing phase, or your best idea comes once have already sent your book off to the printers.



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​If there is a story inside you and you want to write it then you are in the right place. Sarah Bullen is an international writing coach and author mentor. She has worked with writers for over a decade to help you to write a book.
I have loads of video lessons and written ones.

Find me at
https://www.thewritingroom.co.za/
There you can:
Join one of my online mentorships
Buy my latest book
Book a session to talk about your book

You may want to write a nonfiction book to expand your career, you may want to tell your own story, write a memoir or a novel. After 15 years of coaching authors, writing and editing books Sarah will guide you through the journey from the idea to publication. She lives in Cape Town, South Africa but works globally.
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"Writing is a journey. Writing a book is a deep dive into a process of creativity and structure. I totally believe in planning your book and writing with intent. Sometimes it just takes some clear direction, and an understanding on how to structure a book to take you from having a dream of writing to becoming a published author. Let's walk that journey together. The writing is your job, my job is to show you how, to hold you accountable and to find your best book."