The no-bull**it guide to finishing your first novel
- Emma Urbanová
- Jul 20
- 7 min read
"Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist or understand."
-George Orwell, Why I Write
You’ve set out to write your first fully-fledged novel - amazing! Now that you know the final form your writing will take, you also have a clear goal: finishing the story that's been living inside your head and (hopefully) seeing your name on the cover. With such a shining beacon to aim for, motivation should be easy to come by… unless it isn’t.
Every writer knows this struggle: despite the idea being clear in your mind, your manuscript is somehow still not coming together. You dread sitting down at your laptop, inventing every excuse possible to avoid working on your book. Weeks go by, then months, and your friends and family keep asking about your progress - you regret ever telling them, because the vision of a finished manuscript seems further away than ever.
The truth is, most people actually never finish writing their first book. Why? Often, it comes down to a lack of planning, discipline, or a bad case of performance anxiety. Knowing your work will be out there for everyone to read can be intimidating - and there is already so much good writing in the world, so why add yours? On top of this, motivation usually dwindles when the process feels too long and we lose sight of our end goal. When we're trapped inside our unfinished manuscript prison for too long, it can be difficult to see the finish line.
This guide will help you overcome these common blockers and reduce friction during the writing process. You're not alone - if it were easy, everyone would be a writer. But with the right planning, re-aligning with your goals and staying focused, you will finish that manuscript - believe it or not.
Because, despite what Orwell says, writing a book can actually be fun!
Have a plan
Before embarking on such a complex project as a full-length book, you should know what it will be about. And no, I don't mean having every aspect of the plot figured out.
As the manuscript starts taking shape in your mind, grab a pen and paper and try to answer at least some of these essential questions:
What is the key topic of the book?
Who is it for?
What do you hope to find out by writing it?
Write as much or as little as you'd like. I find this a really useful creative exercise, as it helps me think about the draft and sets my ideas in motion. Maybe you already know what's the key premise of your book - I didn't add it to the list on purpose, because I find it valuable to explore this during the writing process itself. Which brings me to the next point.
Some people recognize two types of drafting - outline and discovery writing. While writers who outline will spend some time structuring their book and arranging plot elements for maximum resonance, discovery writers jump straight into writing and discover the plot as it unfolds. There is no right or wrong way to do this - I'd say I fall somewhere in the middle.
The bottom line is: have a plan, whatever that means to you. Maybe you feel most confident writing when you've created a mind map of your characters and a clear plot overview. But if you find such a rigid framework imposes limits on your creativity, let the plot reveal itself to you. However, having some structure - even a loose one - is important as it can reduce the anxiety about the next step that might be preventing you from writing.
Set a goal
"I'm working to finish a novel" is too vague. In order to succeed, you must first set a measurable goal. What does "finish" mean? A first draft, or a polished manuscript complete with all the edits?
Knowing what you're working towards is half the work. If you’re in doubt about how long your novel should be, the industry standard is 80,000 to 100,000 words - shorter works are usually called novellas. Of course, this is no hard rule and there are exceptions, especially with contemporary works being shorter and shorter - but 80,000 is a good benchmark to set for your first novel. Working with this goal in mind allows for sufficient word-building and character development.
Once you have a word count estimate, you'll find it helps with your planning immensely. You can (roughly) structure your chapters, scenes, and set small word count targets that are manageable to hit. And no, you don't have to write 2,000 words every day like Stephen King. Completing these small targets will provide you with motivation and a full-picture focus will make it easier to fill in the rest of the scenes one by one.
If you're feel like you're endlessly putting off your work on the book, try to set a (flexible) deadline, such as completing the first draft in 6 months. Committing to this deadline will require you to build a sustainable writing habit, which is our next step.
Build a habit
I read a quote which changed my life in Mark Tredinnick's book Writing Well . Here it is:
"Have, if you can, a big book to write. If you do, don't sit down each night or morning to write the whole book; sit down to write a fragment. Let it accumulate in splinters. But try not to stop making it daily."
This really resonates with me because I often try to write my book all at once. It’s a mistake I’m prone to: working on multiple sections simultaneously and focusing too much on the overall structure during the early drafting stages. It quickly drains my attention, makes me lose focus, and leaves me feeling exhausted.
It has taught me that to build a book, you need to build a habit first.
Create a consistent writing routine. Try to carve out time when you'll work on your book, like a quiet hour that you have to yourself before work. If you can, create a special environment with conditions that prime you for writing, such as a different room in your house or even a different area in the same room. You'll find that thoughts will start coming to you naturally. And if you're really stuck, try "writing sprints" - timing yourself and writing as much as you can in 5 or 20 minutes.
You can read more tips on how to stop procrastinating and start writing here.
However, if you really don't feel like working on your book right now, stop. Take a walk, do something else, or read a book - who knows, it might supply just the inspiration you need. (A writer friend once told me reading books in her genre motivates her, because she thinks she can write it better!)
Find an accountability partner
A lot of productivity books stress the importance of finding an accountability buddy. This can be your writing mentor, partner, or friend that holds you accountable - and the more serious and strict they're about it, the better.
I asked my friend Tomáš to be my accountability partner when my novel wasn't going anywhere. It's easier because he's a writer too - we agreed that every week, we'd share a new piece with each other, be it a poem or a book chapter. I also set up an online spreadsheet where we'd track our word count.
I know what you think. Tracking creative writing by these productivity measures takes all the fun out of it... and I agree, to an extent. But when I saw Tomáš logging his writing progress and I got a new story from him every week, I felt compelled to do the same and not fall behind. I felt the push, the metaphorical kick in the butt. And that's exactly what accountability partners are for.
Your one doesn't have to be someone who writes - just someone who's there for you, reads your work, and gives you honest feedback. Let go of the fear to only share the draft once it's complete. Sustained, concentrated work on smaller sections gets you much further - you can smooth out the rest later.
Keep going
Coming up with that first book idea is exciting - and so is sketching it out. But once you're several chapters in, the work starts to feel repetitive and the dopamine rush from the beginning is long gone: exactly why most people abandon their first project.
So how do we keep going when motivation starts to wane? In Feel-Good Productivity, Ali Abdaal argues that one reason why we procrastinate is because we become misaligned with our goals. In this case, that goal is finishing the manuscript - and ultimately, publication.
Remind yourself of your overarching goal at all times. I know this is especially tricky for first-time writers, as seasoned writers usually have external incentives, like a contract or commission, that help them push through. Find the desire within yourself to bring the work into the world and never lose sight of your goal.
If it helps, visualize how you'll feel after completing this project. What will it be like holding the first printed draft in your hands? Ask yourself if every day moves you closer to that moment and celebrate progress, no matter how small.
How do I know I'm done with my novel?
You've hit your word count and even gone a bit over. You've reached the end of your final chapter. Your hero or heroine has met their tragic death or happy ending. (Okay, I'm oversimplifying.)
Does this mean you're done?
Yes - and no. Here's the kicker: you're never done, even if you think you've arrived at the best version of the work possible. Before submitting your manuscript to an agent or publisher, you should read it through several times and revise extensively. And I don't only mean ensuring it's grammatically flawless - I mean also removing fluff, fixing awkward sentence constructions, and getting rid of everything that doesn't directly or indirectly contribute to the plot. In other words, removing everything that isn't the book.
Get at least one second opinion before you submit - in the publishing jargon, this is called a beta reader. It can either be a professional or a friend who will likely spot inconsistencies that you, immersed in your manuscript, missed. Signed a book contract? Congratulations! Now, get ready for more rounds of revisions by your author, publisher, or proofreader. Just when you thought you were done and didn't want to see that damn manuscript ever again.
So the truth is - it never really ends. But seeing your name on the cover is so worth it, so hang in there!
Curious about the next step? Read my blog on how to get your book published.
About the author
Emma Urbanová is a writer from Slovakia writing in Slovak and English. Her work in English has been published in From Glasgow to Saturn, the day of, Rat’s Ass Review, and Sublunary Review. Her work in Slovak has received multiple awards such as The Young Slovak Short Story (2018).
Her debut novel in Slovak is forthcoming with the publishing house Brak.
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