Section 12 of 13

Drafting Workspace

Everything you've planned has been leading here. Time to write the opening of your book — your words, in your voice. And if you find you like writing here, you can keep going: every chapter can be drafted in this workspace and downloaded together as one Word document.

Chapter one, or a prologue?

Not every book needs a prologue — most don't. A good prologue has a clear job Chapter One can't do: a moment from the past that haunts the story, a glimpse of another point of view, a promise of what's coming. If you're including one just because other books have them, skip it with confidence.

What will you draft here?

Chapter One A prologue I'll decide as I write

Before the first sentence

Quick answers — they aim your opening. Skip any you'd rather discover while writing.

Who is the point-of-view character?

Where does the opening begin?

What is happening when the scene starts?

Start close to the interesting part — remember, enter late.

What does the character want in this scene?

What is preventing them from getting it?

What does the reader need to understand?

What does the reader NOT need to know yet?

Held-back information is tension. Spend it slowly.

What emotional tone should the opening create?

What changes before the chapter ends?

What should make the reader keep going?

Write

Now drafting

Where does the draft stand?

Not started In progress First draft complete 🎉 Ready to export

A reminder about ugly drafts: your first draft's only job is to exist. Don't judge it against published books — those were drafted badly too, then revised into shape. Forward is the only direction that matters right now.

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