→ This week’s goal: Follow the questions, images, and ideas that excite you and use that energy to get words on the page.

→ Word target: 12k words by the end of the week.

→ Looking for some daily accountability?

Read more

Today was the first day of First Draft November! I wanted to give you a little space and check in at the end. How’d you do? Today’s word count goal was 1,667. Did you meet it? Exceed it? Going to take some time tomorrow to catch up?

All are good answers, this is about having fun and getting through it together.

Alsoo…

Speaking of, just a reminder, you’ll find a new thread in our chat every day where you can post your daily word count and connect with other writers participating in the challenge. We’ve already posted today’s check-in if you want to hop in:

If you don’t want to get super wrapped up in the Substack ecosystem (totally understandable) and prefer to leave a comment, you can do that here:

Leave a comment

Or hey, email me! Just reply to this and let me know how you did. Nobody else needs to know.

And congratulations for starting this challenge. Let’s go!!

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Hi writers!

Your First Draft November novel writing challenge is almost here! As we get ready for the official start date on Sunday, I’m sharing my favorite tips and reminders to help you succeed as you write your first draft. Since this is one of my favorite topics to talk about and teach, I hope you find these easy to process and implement. Writing is already difficult enough; we don’t need to make it any more complicated than it needs to be.

You can return to this starter pack for whenever you feel stuck, lost, or just need some motivation to keep moving. Or if you're struggling with something specific that I don’t address, leave a comment!

First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. Subscribe to get updates in your inbox!

Join First Draft November

Read more

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Hi friends!

We are back for another November of novel writing! If you joined us last year, you will remember that we spent the month together diving into the messy and wild process of writing a first novel draft.

Read more

→ This week’s goal: Reach the midpoint twist, escalate pressure from antagonistic forces, and celebrate 50k messy, beautiful words—the bulk of your first draft!

→ Word target: 50k words by the end of the week!

→ Looking for some daily accountability? Join the First Draft November Chat to post your daily word count and connect with your fellow writers.

We made it, writers. We’re one day away from the end of First Draft November.

Whether you hit 50k or just kept showing up, you’ve done something extraordinary. You’ve built momentum, found your rhythm, kept writing when you didn’t want to, and made your way through the messiest parts of the creative process. That’s what matters most.

It’s been a joy to hear from you daily, and I thank you for all your enthusiasm. You made this challenge such a happy place to be, and I’m so proud of all of you!

Let’s make our final check-in a good one. Here is today’s prompt:

Share one single line from your draft that you’re most proud of.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just a sentence that makes you feel something. Maybe it captures your protagonist’s heart or your story’s tone. Or maybe it’s a line that surprised you on the page. Surprises are the best!

Drop your line in the comments, then scroll through and celebrate someone else’s. Leave a heart, a “hell yes,” or a word of encouragement.

Leave a comment

Congratulations, friends. You wrote your little hearts out this month, and this is the reward—that messy, wonderful, you-actually-did-it feeling of creating something out of nothing.

I hope you are feeling accomplished and proud. You deserve it.

→ This week’s goal: Reach the midpoint twist, escalate pressure from antagonistic forces, and celebrate 50k messy, beautiful words—the bulk of your first draft!

→ Word target: 50k words by the end of the week!

→ Looking for some daily accountability? Join the First Draft November Chat to post your daily word count and connect with your fellow writers.

Hi writers,

Happy Friday, and happy on the tail-end-of-the-finish-line day! This is your last letter from me. But with two days left of the month, I know you’re still in the midst of creating pressure, closing in on your protagonist as the antagonist is circling, the clock is ticking, and the protagonist’s own flaws are starting to work against them.

But let’s pause for a moment to celebrate. Showing up for your story every day, writing with curiosity and speed, and letting go of perfectionism is no small feat. Truly, it’s the hardest part of novel writing: Keeping momentum through the mess. And you did it!

So what’s next for your draft, and how will you keep going?

50k words don’t usually finish a novel. But that wordcount does take you past the midpoint, through the hardest terrain, and into the bulk of the work. From here, writing another 20–30k words to reach a full draft is far less daunting—the engine is already running. You’ve built the discipline, proven you can sustain the rhythm, and shown yourself that messy pages are better than no pages at all.

I challenge you to keep writing through to the end. Consider it a holiday gift to yourself: A messy draft with a beginning, middle, and end. Your idea expanded into a full-length story.

Yes, there will be plot holes, unexplained backstory, side characters you might cut, cringeworthy lines of dialogue, plot lines that go nowhere, or unclear character motivations.

But none of that matters right now.

You will revise this baby more times than you would like to count. So don’t look back just yet. Instead, carry the momentum you have built this month into December and FINISH. THIS. DRAFT.

After that, I encourage you to rest. Let everything you have experienced this month marinate, and let your story settle in the form it’s in now. Then, perhaps in a few weeks, pick it up again and see what you have created.

Distance allows you to see things more clearly. You might already be feeling harsh judgment for parts of this messy draft you have created, so this time away can soften that feeling and allow you to look at your novel with fresh eyes.

Three things to do next

1. Set a mini December goal

Don’t lose momentum. Keep with the 1,667 words a day. If that feels like too much, slow it down to 1,000 or even 500 words. But stay consistent so your draft doesn’t stall.

2. Celebrate properly

Seriously. Order takeout, buy yourself flowers, text your writing buddy, take a shot, whatever feels like joy. Finishing 50k words in a month is rare. Mark it. Feel it. Celebrate it, baby!

3. Connect with community

If you loved writing in sync with others, keep it going. Drop into the accountability thread one more time this weekend, share your word count, or even post a favorite messy line from your draft. Writing doesn’t have to be lonely, and I hope you have felt unified with us this month.

An added bonus

If First Draft November has reminded you how much momentum and community matter, I’d love to invite you into The Wild Draft, my 6-month small-group cohort starting in January.

It’s a high-touch experience designed for first and early drafters who want to finish their novels with accountability, craft guidance, and writerly joy. Together, we’ll meet biweekly, build your book scene by scene, and create a writing practice that will carry you beyond just one draft.

The waitlist is open here. I’d love to keep writing alongside you!

Thank you so much for embarking on this journey with me! Remember, this wasn’t about a perfect draft. It was about building trust in your intuition, momentum in your writing life, and proof that you can finish big things. This messy draft is evidence. The real gift is the practice you’ve built, and that will carry you into every project to come.

Happy writing and onward, friends!

First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. Write with us!

Subscribe now

→ This week’s goal: Reach the midpoint twist, escalate pressure from antagonistic forces, and celebrate 50k messy, beautiful words—the bulk of your first draft!

→ Word target: 50k words by the end of the week!

→ Looking for some daily accountability? Join the First Draft November Chat to post your daily word count and connect with your fellow writers.

Hey writers!

We’re only a few more days away from the end of this 50k-word challenge. Hell yeah.

Today, we are talking about the stretch of Act Two where things begin to close in on your protagonist. Whether you’ve already hit 50k or are still climbing toward it, you’re in the territory where tension needs to escalate.

Are you sick of me mentioning tension yet? Too bad! Because now, we’re heading towards the scenes where antagonistic forces—both external and internal—start to tighten their grip. These have the potential to be the most exciting pages of your draft! Focus on bringing that curious energy to the page. See what wild thing happens to your poor protagonist, whose life is about to feel a little out of control (and chaotic).

Here come the bad guys. But first, today’s guiding question:

Who or what benefits from your protagonist’s failure, and how are they closing in?

In the Bad Guys Close In beat, your protagonist’s goal hasn’t changed, but the resistance against them has grown sharper. These “bad guys” don’t have to be villains in the classic sense (though they can be). They might be:

• External antagonists: a rival, an enemy, an institution, a storm, a ticking clock

• Internal antagonists: the protagonist’s own flaw, fear, or destructive pattern

• Situational forces: bad timing, coincidence, betrayal from someone close

The walls are closing in, making forward progress harder, scarier, and riskier. The pressure is mounting as we drive our character towards the All Is Lost moment.

Here are a few more questions to ask if you are feeling stuck:

• What’s the worst timing for my protagonist right now?

• What does it look like when my protagonist realizes that this is more difficult than they imagined? How do they suffer?

• Who else in the story might profit from their downfall?

• How can I put pressure on my protagonist from multiple directions?

The goal is to make your protagonist’s path forward feel increasingly unsustainable, so that when we hit their lowest point, it lands with full force.

Keep writing, friends!

P.S. As this challenge winds down, remember your draft doesn’t have to stall out. I’d love to keep working with you inside The Wild Draft, my six-month cohort for writers tackling first or early drafts. Together, we’ll keep the momentum going with craft guidance, accountability, feedback on your pages, and community. Join the waitlist here.

First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. Write with us!

Subscribe now

→ This week’s goal: Reach the midpoint twist, escalate pressure from antagonistic forces, and celebrate 50k messy, beautiful words—the bulk of your first draft!

→ Word target: 50k words by the end of the week!

→ Looking for some daily accountability? Join the First Draft November Chat to post your daily word count and connect with your fellow writers.

Hello writers,

We’ve made it to midpoint madness, and the 50k finish line is officially in sight!

Today kicks off the final week of our challenge. Soon, you’ll not only have crossed through your novel’s midpoint, but you’ll also be standing almost at the edge of the Bad Guys Close In beat. The bulk of your first draft will soon be behind you!

Here’s today’s guiding question:

What hidden desire, flaw, or fear will drive your protagonist to keep going?

The midpoint has shifted the game. Your protagonist has experienced a revelation, betrayal, or turning point that has changed their understanding of the world. From here on out, things only get harder. Your character is about to go through it, as I like to say, so get ready to be a little sadistic.

To survive this next stretch, your character needs more than just surface-level goals. They need fuel: something deep within them that pushes them forward, even when all signs say they should give up. One way we can tease out that fuel is by considering a hidden desire, a deep flaw, or a secret fear.

Hidden desire
On the surface, your protagonist has been chasing an external goal. The thing they say they want. But underneath, there’s often a hidden longing that gives that goal its emotional weight. For example, maybe they insist they want independence, but what they really crave is to be loved without conditions. The tension between what they say they want and what they truly long for creates powerful scenes—that’s where the cracks start to show.

Flaw
Characters don’t just push forward because they’re strong. Sometimes, their flaws keep them in motion. Stubbornness, pride, anger, or ambition can make characters double down, even when it hurts. Flaws can also create internal conflict that’s ripe for tension: the very thing helping them move forward may also be sabotaging their relationships or making their situation worse. I love this kind of complexity!

Fear
Fear is one of the most universal drivers. Your protagonist may be terrified of repeating a past mistake, of being powerless again, or of losing someone they love. That fear makes giving up impossible, even when logic says they should. Fear is also deeply relatable, and it keeps your character human even in extraordinary circumstances.

So here’s your task for today: Write a scene where your protagonist’s hidden desire, flaw, or fear shows up, even if they don’t admit it out loud. Let it slip in through their choices, their relationships, or even their mistakes.

Keep going, friends! Happy writing!

P.S. Even though First Draft November is almost over, I’d love to keep writing with you. Starting in January, my six-month small-group program, The Wild Draft, starts up again. This is especially for writers in first or early drafts who want structure, feedback, accountability, and community to help actually finish their novels. You can join the waitlist here!

First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. Write with us!

Subscribe now

→ This week’s goal: Fully embrace the messy middle by leaning into tension, the promise of your premise, and the unexpected ways your protagonist is tested.

→ Word target: 35k words by the end of the week.

→ Looking for some daily accountability? Join the First Draft November Chat to post your daily word count and connect with your fellow writers.

Greetings from the trenches of the messy middle! We’ve been writing together for 22 days, which means we’re closing in on the end of this challenge, but deep in the middle of our drafts.

Act Two is a wild place to be. You’ve written far enough that turning back isn’t an option, but you might be wondering how on earth you’re going to get to the end. (Hint: one scene at a time.)

By now, you should be hovering around 35k words, but no stress if you’re not there. The midpoint is about momentum, not math.

Now for our check-in!

Describe your novel so far using only four emojis.

Give us vibes, colors, emotions, themes, and topics—however you want to capture what your book is becoming.

Here is an example from my first draft: 🌊 🍸 💋🍽️

Drop your emojis in the comments, then scroll through and guess what other writers’ books might be about. No wrong answers, only vibes!

Leave a comment

First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. For more content like this, subscribe below.

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→ This week’s goal: Fully embrace the messy middle by leaning into tension, the promise of your premise, and the unexpected ways your protagonist is tested.

→ Word target: 35k words by the end of the week.

→ Looking for some daily accountability? Join the First Draft November Chat to post your daily word count and connect with your fellow writers.

Hi writers,

Greetings from a Friday in the messy middle! How are you all doing?!

We’ve been writing together for 21 days, which means we’re nearing the end of this challenge. However, when it comes to our draft, we are still in the thick of it.

Today, we’re going to hone in on the crossroads our protagonists will inevitably face. Similarly, you might be at a crossroads as to whether or not you should keep writing. But I’ll solve that one for ya real quick: Keep going!

Here’s today’s guiding question:

What unexpected truth, twist, or betrayal is about to change everything?

We’re not at the midpoint yet (that usually lands closer to 40k), but we’re setting it up. The midpoint is where the story truly shifts: The stakes rise, the energy pivots, and the protagonist can no longer go back to how things once were.

If the inciting incident at the end of Act One was the protagonist’s first push forward, the midpoint is the door slamming shut behind them. We’ve already talked about false victories and defeats, but let’s recap in terms of how most midpoints play out.

False Victory
Things seem to be going great. The protagonist looks like they’re winning, succeeding, or moving closer to their goal. But the win is built on shaky ground, setting up the fall to come. Example: They get the job, the romance, or a big win—but it won’t last.

False Defeat
Things seem to be going terribly. The protagonist looks like they’ve lost or failed completely. But things aren’t final—it’s a setup for a future turnaround.
Example: A relationship collapses, they’re rejected, or humiliated—but this will drive the story forward.

As we begin planning how false victories or defeats will play out at our midpoint, think about these beats as unexpected truths, twists, or betrayals. These elements will inevitably ramp up the tension, which is something we’re always looking to do.

What could happen that completely reorients the story? Could your protagonist betray someone or be betrayed? Could a truth be revealed in a way that your protagonist didn’t see coming?

Quick reminder

Continue to be curious about how your main character responds to your antagonist. That’s where tension lies, and that relationship may also be a place where you find lies, betrayals, or unexpected twists.

Today, let’s lean into that tension. Remember: We’re on a trajectory where things aren’t getting any easier for your protagonist! Let your main character feel confident or crushed in a way that sets up the (shit)storm on the horizon.

Happy writing!

First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. And no, it’s not too late to join. Write with us!

Subscribe now

→ This week’s goal: Fully embrace the messy middle by leaning into tension, the promise of your premise, and the unexpected ways your protagonist is tested.

→ Word target: 35k words by the end of the week.

→ Looking for some daily accountability? Join the First Draft November Chat to post your daily word count and connect with your fellow writers.

Hi writers!

We’re closing in on the midpoint, but we’re not there quite yet. By the end of this week, you’ll have around 35,000 words—which means your protagonist is still navigating the messy middle and the Fun and Games beat while holding tight to the beliefs and assumptions that have carried them this far.

Here’s today’s guiding question:

What belief is your protagonist still clinging to, and what’s about to challenge it?

Every character carries a core belief, a “rule” about how the world works. It might be:

• If I stay invisible, I’ll stay safe.

• If I can control everything, nothing can hurt me.

• If I’m perfect, I’ll be loved.

• If I have money, I have freedom.

So far, this belief has guided your protagonist’s choices. But the midpoint storm is coming: A revelation, betrayal, or truth that will shake that belief to its core.

The midpoint will bring on another kind of twist—another inciting incident or catalyst where things will change drastically for your character. To feel the impact of what will happen at the midpoint later, we need to see the belief in action now. This is the calm before the storm. Your protagonist is doubling down, defending their worldview, and maybe even acting with false confidence.

Think of this as pulling a slingshot back. The tighter your protagonist clings to their belief now, the harder that same belief will snap when the midpoint hits.

If you feel stuck

Ask yourself: What has my protagonist been relying on to get through? What situation could make them cling to this belief even harder, right before it all unravels?

Today, write into your character’s guiding belief. Let that belief steer their choices. Let that belief feel unshakable—for now. The midpoint, around 40K, will challenge everything. But this section is about building tension by showing us your protagonist’s belief at its strongest.

Happy writing!

First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. And no, it’s not too late to join. Write with us!

Join First Draft November

→ This week’s goal: Fully embrace the messy middle by leaning into tension, the promise of your premise, and the unexpected ways your protagonist is tested.

→ Word target: 35k words by the end of the week.

→ Looking for some daily accountability? Join the First Draft November Chat to post your daily word count and connect with your fellow writers.

Hi writers,

Welcome to the messy middle! We have officially entered the world of Act Two. And by the end of the week, we’ll have written around 35,000 words!

This part of your draft is pretty expansive, so there’s a chance you’re freaking out. You might feel disorganized or like you are trudging through a murky swamp without any direction (no? Just me?). This is a good time to take a step back and remind yourself of why you wanted to write this story. So before we dive into the messy middle’s beats, let’s get to today’s guiding question:

When you started thinking about this book, what images or vibes came to mind?

This is our first draft, so of course we don’t know all of the specifics yet. But I’m sure you had something in mind—a particular vibe or a tiny image that could grow into a full scene—that got you excited enough to begin writing a novel. Maybe you saw your protagonist in a certain light, or imagined a party, or pictured a particular kind of tension.

As we move full speed ahead towards the messy middle, don’t forget about your original intention for this book. This excitement will give you the motivation you need to keep going. Even though it will likely take many revisions to convey your vision for the story fully, your enthusiasm can help reset your journey when things feel murky and messy.

Keep those images and vibes close as we enter this next story beat, Fun and Games.

I love that this beat has two names, because both are equally useful. The Fun and Games beat reminds us that not every scene has to be packed with grim, tension-filled conflict. In fact, those moments of high drama hit harder when they’re contrasted with lighter, more playful ones. This label also supports our hold it all loosely mindset. We get to experiment on the page, seeing how our characters act in this new world.

The Fun and Games beat is also called the Promise of the Premise. When someone picks up your book, they probably have a general idea of what to expect, whether that’s from the back cover copy, a review, or a friend’s suggestion. This beat is where you deliver on that promise. It’s also where your original intent comes into play—those vibes, topics, or scenes that propelled you to the page in the first place.

Here is an example from my own work. In my novel, the “promise” is clear: a girl working at a country club, partying with the staff, and clashing with the wealthy members. That’s what someone would tell a friend if they asked what my book is about.

As the story progresses, my protagonist becomes acclimated to her new world. She’s crushing on the sous chef, befriending the waitresses, getting jealous of one of them, and drinking too much after work. There’s a 3rd of July party, scenes of waiting on the club’s men and watching how they respond to her, and plenty of kitchen mishaps.

I knew conflict and tension would be essential as the novel moved along. But the idea of exploring these staff dynamics—the push-pull between working-class life and elite wealth, and the intimacy of a restaurant crew—was what originally excited me when I first started conceptualizing my novel. And that’s what became my Fun and Games section.

So today, ask yourself: What images or vibes first made me want to write this story? Put those ideas on the page. They’ll keep you moving through the messy middle.

Happy writing!

First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. And no, it’s not too late to join. Write with us!

Join First Draft November

→ This week’s goal: Break out of Act One and take the first irreversible step into Act Two, where new stakes begin to unfold.

→ Word target: 23k words by the end of the week.

→ Looking for some daily accountability? Join the First Draft November Chat to post your daily word count and connect with your fellow writers.

Hi writers!

As we find ourselves fully in the upside-down world of Act Two, we might also find ourselves going a little loopy from all this writing, plotting, and planning. This chunk of your book is big and sprawling—but that also means it is full of possibilities.

Still, I figured that at this point in our challenge, you might need a little reminder: We are working our way through this draft without judgment of our words and with a playful curiosity to drive us through.

Here are some of my favorite mindset shifts to recommend to writers at this stage of your draft:

• Trust that your character will teach you what Act Two is about (if you let them)

• You don’t need to know the whole second act to start it (and honestly, it would be wild if you DID know it all)

• It’s okay to write scenes out of order. Jump around! Follow your excitement!

• Choose curiosity over control. Remember, no one is reading this—so let weirdness and discovery lead you

If you’re still feeling stuck, another tip I have is to lean into contrasts. If your protagonist is quiet, maybe someone loud barges in. If they’re cynical, maybe someone hopeful arrives. Contrast creates… let’s say it together… tension!

Okay, let’s get into today’s guiding question:

Who enters your protagonist’s life at this point, and how does this relationship force them to see themselves, or their goal, differently?

In Save the Cat language, the A Story is the external plot, or what your protagonist does: win the competition, solve the mystery, survive the disaster. The B Story is the internal/emotional subplot, or what your protagonist learns: themes, a moral truth, or emotional growth.

B Story characters are the heart of this shift. They usually appear early in Act Two and help the protagonist discover or wrestle with the deeper theme of the novel. At this stage, it’s totally okay if you don’t know what that theme or lesson is—we’re in draft one. Just trust that these characters will pull it out of the story.

This character might be a love interest, a friend, a mentor, a rival, or even a nemesis. Sometimes they’re a mirror, someone who embodies your protagonist’s flaw in an exaggerated way, making the consequences impossible to ignore. Other times, they’re the guide or the spark that pushes your protagonist deeper into this new world.

What makes them special is that they couldn’t have appeared in Act One. They belong to the new terrain of Act Two, with its unfamiliar rules, perspectives, and challenges.

Follow your curiosity. Write into the relationship that surprises you. Let this new dynamic widen your story, add perspective, and add some fresh blood to your draft (as in a new person, not the blood of your own fingers… which has so far typed almost 23,000 words).

Happy writing!

First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. Subscribe to get updates in your inbox!

Join First Draft November

→ This week’s goal: Break out of Act One and take the first irreversible step into Act Two, where new stakes begin to unfold.

→ Word target: 23k words by the end of the week.

→ Looking for some extra accountability? Join the First Draft November Chat to post your daily word count and connect with your fellow writers.

Hi writers,

Right now, we are sitting pretty at around 16,000 words. You might still be in the Debate beat or just wrapping it up. Either way, you’re very close to breaking into the world of Act Two, or as Save the Cat Writes a Novel calls it, “the upside-down world.” Everything will change for your protagonist from here on out.

Here’s today’s guiding question:

Is there a moment where your main character recognizes the possibility of getting what they want? What does that look like?

If Act One was about setting the stakes, Act Two is about playing them out.

This is the phase of the novel where your character is taking action: imperfect, impulsive, or inspired. They are moving toward what they want, even if they don’t fully understand what it is yet. Spoiler: They won’t!

At the start of Act Two, characters often mistake progress for success. They get a small win, catch a lucky break, or glimpse the possibility of achieving their goal. This is what’s called a false victory: a moment that feels like momentum, but doesn’t yet solve their deeper problem.

Other times, they stumble into a false defeat, which is a setback that looks devastating but isn’t the end. In both cases, the protagonist is learning the rules of this new world, testing their footing, and discovering that the path forward isn’t what they imagined.

These early beats aren’t about triumph or ruin. They’re about illusion. Your protagonist thinks they’re closer (or farther) from their desire than they really are.

Example: In my novel, when my protagonist gets the job at the country club—the decision that propels her into Act Two—she glimpses the possibility of achieving her goal: making enough money to leave her mother. She sees how much the other waitresses are earning, notices the automatic gratuity, and learns that members also tip in cash. For a moment, this feels like success. She imagines herself stacking bills, free at last. But of course, this hope is false (which she will find out later, the poor thing.)

More questions to consider:

• What small win might boost your character's confidence but ultimately prove to be fleeting?

• What setback might seem catastrophic, but only deepens their commitment to the journey?

• How does this moment show us what your protagonist believes about themselves and the world?

These false steps are essential because they keep us leaning forward, wondering what will really last. AKA, tension!

Happy writing, friends.

First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. Subscribe to get updates in your inbox!

Join First Draft November

→ This week’s goal: Break out of Act One and take the first irreversible step into Act Two, where new stakes begin to unfold.

→ Word target: 23k words by the end of the week.

→ Looking for some extra accountability? Join the First Draft November Chat to post your daily word count and connect with your fellow writers.

Hi writers,

Welcome to week two of writing our little hearts out! You’ve reached a pivotal point in your draft. So far, you’ve explored your protagonist’s yearning and wound, met the forces that oppose them, and written the inciting incident that shattered their ordinary world.

Now, we arrive at the Debate beat, where your character must decide whether they’ll step into the unknown or cling to what they know. This will hurl us into Act Two (I like that visual), which is the bulk of your novel!

Here’s today’s guiding question:

What makes your protagonist take the first irreversible step into the unknown?

Today is all about exploring the tension, hesitation, and decisions that live at the end of Act One and set the stage for Act Two.

In the Debate beat, your protagonist will likely resist the change that’s coming their way—because even when life is uncomfortable, the familiar feels safer than what lies beyond. The Debate beat captures this tension. Your protagonist wrestles with what happened in the inciting incident, and now they’re thinking, “What the hell just happened? What do I do now?” After their initial reaction to the inciting incident, what usually follows is a moment of hesitation or reluctance, during which your protagonist stalls, bargains, or doubts themselves.

But by the end of this beat, they’ve run out of choices. They must act, and this is what I’m calling the Doorway of No Return. Once they cross that threshold and step through, they can’t go back to the life they had before.

This image was so helpful to me when I was trying to figure out what happened next in my early drafts. Maybe getting a new job doesn’t feel that dramatic, but my protagonist is leaving the familiar for the unfamiliar. It’s not so much the action taken, but rather the meaning attached to the decision.

What matters most is that this choice raises the stakes and locks your protagonist into the story ahead. Ask yourself:

• What do they risk if they say yes?

• What do they risk if they say no?

• Why does this moment matter more than the ones that came before?

Be curious about reluctance. Even if your character’s hesitation lasts only a beat, it’s powerful. That flicker of, “Should I really do this?” gives weight to their eventual decision. Remember: We only change when we’ve run out of other options.

And if you feel your character isn’t hesitating at all, lean into that too. What makes them leap so quickly? What kind of person (or wound) drives them to embrace risk without pause?

Happy writing!

First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. Subscribe to get updates in your inbox!

Join First Draft November

→ This week’s goal: Power through Act One and get to the place where your character makes a decision they can’t go back on.

→ Word target: 12k words by the end of the week.

Welcome to our first Saturday Accountability thread!

There are thousands of us sprinting through First Draft November right now, and I don’t want any of you to feel like you’re quietly suffering, all alone in your Word Doc.

We are all in this together, so let’s get to know each other, cheer each other on, and share the mess.

Let’s see who else might be on the same page as you (pun absolutely intended).

Step 1: Build your line

Pick a hashtag from each of the categories below that describes where you’re at today.

→ Progress vibe: How did your session go today?

#FlyingThrough #SlowAndSteady #FeralTyping #ScreamingIntoTheVoid

→ Act One energy: Where are you in your draft?

#SetupDone #IncitingIncident #BigDecision #StillFiguringItOut

→ Current mood?

#Motivated #Delusional #Procrastinating #I’mKillingIt

→ Optional extras: Some examples, but feel free to add your own!

#CoffeeFueled #NightWriter #PlotHoleCity #MainCharacterEnergy

Once finished, your line should look like this: #SlowAndSteady #SetUpDone #Motivated #CoffeeFueled

Step 2: Drop your line in the comments

Scroll down, or use this link.

Step 3: Reply to one other writer’s comment

Cheer them on, commiserate, or just say, “Same.”

A friendly reminder: No perfection or guilt here! Despite this ambitious challenge (and our enthusiasm for it), we are inevitably going to hit roadblocks or have “life things” get in the way. If you didn’t write as much as you wanted to this week, don’t dwell. Just keep going.

We are cheering you on!

First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. For more content like this, subscribe below.

Join First Draft November

→ This week’s goal: Power through Act One and get to the place where your character makes a decision they can’t go back on.

→ Word target: 12k words by the end of the week.

Hi writers,

We’re closing in on our first big milestone (about 12,000 words), which puts us right at the Inciting Incident + Debate beat. This is the turning point that disrupts your protagonist’s ordinary world and forces them to confront something new. It doesn’t yet launch them into Act Two (that will happen closer to 20K), but it sets everything into motion.

Here’s today’s guiding question:

What moment shatters your protagonist’s normal world, and why can’t they go back?

Let’s talk about what the inciting incident looks like. This is the catalytic moment that flips your story on its head. The inciting incident might be subtle, like a missed train, a sudden letter, a chance encounter, or it could be explosive, like a death, a betrayal, or a dramatic accident. In my novel, the event that really sets the story into motion is when my protagonist gets a new job as a waitress at a New England country club.

For some genres, especially for those of you writing literary or upmarket fiction, the stakes might feel a little low or more emotion-driven. But the scale of this moment doesn’t matter as much as the fact that it creates disruption and urgency. That’s your bread and butter, baby.

As you think about your inciting incident, ask yourself:

• Does this event put pressure on your protagonist’s yearning or desire?

• Does it begin to raise the stakes?

• Is it going to push your protagonist out of the “ordinary world” of Act One and into the “new world” of Act Two?

If you’re feeling stuck

Remember: Characters don’t always behave predictably. Up until now, you’ve been building out who your protagonist is. Now’s the time to let circumstances push them out of character. Put them under pressure. Let them surprise you. These disruptions are what make fiction feel alive!

So sit with today’s question: What moment shatters your protagonist’s world, and why can’t they go back? Write into the disruption. Write into the hesitation. Let your draft lean into the discomfort of change.

Happy writing!

First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. Subscribe to get updates in your inbox!

Join First Draft November

→ This week’s goal: Power through Act One and get to the place where your character makes a decision they can’t go back on.

→ Word target: 12k words by the end of the week.

Hi writers!

On Monday, you dug into your protagonist’s yearning and what’s missing in their life. Today, we’re looking at what happens when that yearning crashes into resistance. Without opposition, there’s no story. And without an antagonist, desire has nothing to push against.

You’re going to hear me say this a lot this month: We want tension here, people! And at this early stage, the tension is not just for the reader; it’s for you too! If we want to keep up the momentum to write every day and get our draft to 50k by November 30, we need to keep adding tension to our story so we don’t get bored.

So here is today’s guiding question:

Who is your antagonist or antagonistic force? How does the antagonist respond to your main character?

An antagonist isn’t always a villain. Sometimes it’s a rival, sometimes it’s a parent, sometimes it’s an institution, or even the protagonist themselves. An antagonist or antagonistic force is simply someone or something actively standing in the way of what your protagonist wants.

If you don’t yet know what your character wants, that’s totally okay at this point! Playing around with what an opposing force looks like might help you tease out what your protagonist is secretly longing for. Just remember: Conflict propels the story forward.

Remember, the story happens in the resistance. For example: if your protagonist wants love, the antagonist might be the fear of intimacy or a rival competing for the same relationship. If your protagonist wants freedom, the antagonist might be a domineering parent or the reality of bills they can’t ignore. If your protagonist wants success, the antagonist might be a boss who underestimates them, or their own lack of confidence.

Notice how these examples swing between external antagonists (people, systems, obstacles in the world) and internal antagonists (fear, shame, self-sabotage). The most compelling usually weave both: something pressing from outside, and something festering inside.

The clash between internal and external forces is always ripe for tension!

I want to share one of my favorite prompts from The 90 Day Novel by Alan Watt. This helped me identify who my antagonist was when I was writing the early drafts of my novel. (Spoiler: It was my protagonist’s mother! A character I loved! A character that my protagonist loved! Sometimes these villains are sneaky.)

“Write a ten-minute dialogue between your hero and an antagonist. The hero wants something, and the antagonist is unwilling to give it to them. Play this out until one of them succeeds (or dies trying).”

Dialogue works because it doesn’t let us hide. In conversation, desires and resistance come out more raw and honest, than just description. Even if you never use the scene in your final draft, this prompt will show you how these two forces collide!

So today, let this question guide you: Who, or what, is standing in your protagonist’s way? And how does that force respond when pressed?

Don’t worry about making this clean or logical. Trust your intuition and follow your enthusiasm. The point isn’t to fully sketch out your antagonist yet. The point is to feel the resistance, to see what happens when your character’s desire meets opposition. Sometimes the sparks will surprise you, and that’s exactly what we want in a first draft.

Happy writing!

First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. Subscribe to get updates in your inbox!

Join First Draft November

→ This week’s goal: Power through Act One and get to the place where your character makes a decision they can’t go back on.

→ Word target: 12k words by the end of the week.

Before we dive in, I wanted to remind you of our structure for these Monday, Wednesday, and Friday posts. Each one includes a single guiding question meant to spark curiosity and move your story forward. We’ll follow the three-act structure as our compass, hitting key milestones along the way. You don’t need to know the answer; just stay curious, and write to see what happens. That’s how discovery (and first drafts!) begin. If you missed our full post on how this challenge will be structured, click here.

Also! You’ll find a new thread in our chat every day where you can post your daily word count and connect with other writers participating in the challenge. We want to know how it’s going!

Okay, let’s begin. Today’s question is meant to propel us into the life of our protagonist as we enter Act One. This is where the door to our stories opens—and we’re walking right on in to see where it will lead us.

The job of Act One is to set the stage: Introduce your protagonist in their ordinary world, reveal what they want and what’s missing, and establish the forces standing in their way. The first act grounds us in the story’s world, planting the seeds of conflict.

Our guiding question is simple, but it will unlock everything that follows:

Why does your protagonist want what they want, and what’s missing from their life right now?

As you write your opening pages and establish where the story could begin (saying “could” here because it’s just a first draft!), also consider that all stories build from a sense of yearning and a sense of lack.

Your protagonist’s yearning is the thing they want on the surface: think love, freedom, safety, recognition, power, or revenge. It’s usually something we can picture, like a promotion, a relationship, a house, a chance to run away. This yearning creates momentum. It’s what pulls the character (and the reader) forward. In my own first novel, for example, my protagonist begins by asking for extra shifts at her job because she wants more money, which she equates with freedom. On the surface, it sounds simple—and to her, in that moment, it is. But of course, as the novel unfolds, that desire becomes far more complicated and convoluted.

Underneath that yearning is the wound, a sense of lack. Think of this wound as a deeper hurt or absence that shapes why the protagonist’s desire matters so much. Maybe they grew up abandoned, so recognition feels like survival. Maybe they were humiliated, so power feels like safety. Maybe they lost someone, so love feels like oxygen. This wound adds depth, making your stakes emotional, not just situational.

In my novel, my protagonist’s desire for more shifts at work, and eventually a new job, is tied to more than just money. The real wound is her fear of being trapped—by her circumstances, her mother, and by her own sense of self. Freedom isn’t really about dollars in her pocket; it’s about proving to herself that she can escape a life that feels too small for her.

Every novel is powered by this dual engine: the outer desire and the inner wound. Together, they set the stage for conflict. Because if your protagonist wants something deeply, the story can begin to ask: What will it cost them to get it? And you, as the writer, are about to make it all kinds of complicated for them. That’s the fun part!

So today, sit with this question. Don’t rush past it. Don’t worry about making it perfect. Just explore:

• What does your protagonist think they want?

• What’s really missing from their life?

• How might this tension show up in the way they speak, act, or move through the opening pages?

And remember: This isn’t about making a polished scene. It’s about curiosity. Ask this question again and again, and let it guide you into discovery.

Happy writing! See you on Wednesday.

First Draft November is a free-for-all, month-long challenge for writers who are ready to get that novel they’ve been dreaming of on the page. Subscribe to get updates in your inbox!

Join First Draft November

Today was the first day of First Draft November! Wanted to give you a little space, check in at the end. How’d you do? Today’s word count goal was 1,667. Did you meet it? Exceed it? Going to take some time tomorrow to catch up? All are good answers, this is about having fun and getting through it together.

Speaking of, just a reminder, you’ll find a new thread in our chat every day where you can post your daily word count and connect with other writers participating in the challenge. We’ve already posted today’s check-in if you want to hop in:

If you don’t want to get super wrapped up in the Substack ecosystem (totally understandable) and prefer to leave a comment, you can do that here:

Leave a comment

Or hey, email me! Just reply to this and let me know how you did. Nobody else needs to know.

And congratulations for starting this challenge, let’s go!