Why I write 200 word chapters
Madeleine, let's roll
Let’s talk zero drafting
Writers are famous for being particular. We have our special pens, our favorite programs—and our favorite ways to draft. This month, I want to talk about my process.
I fast draft or zero draft. They’re not exactly the same, but the concepts are overlapping. It was a technique first introduced to me by Leigh Bardugo, author of Shadow and Bone and Ninth House. She talked about it on her Instagram one day, so I tried it. And I’m never going back.
So what is it?
Zero drafting is called such because it comes before the traditional first draft. There are many ways to zero draft. You can use bullet points, writing a sort of long outline. You can use [[brackets]] to indicate where you want to expand later.
For me, personally, it involves writing a detailed outline first, then using my outline to write as much as I can before I burn out. Some chapters might be long, detailed, using up 2000 words or more, but most are going to be short—let’s say, 500-1000 words, sometimes less if I’m really stuck. The idea is to get down whatever I can and then to move tf on.
Why zero draft?
So you’re going to have to come back and expand this mess, right? So why do it at all? For me, the benefits fall into two categories: speed and stuckness.
Speed
There’s a reason people sometimes call it fast drafting. When you’re only writing 50k or less for a whole book, you can get it done in a month. It’s a skill that I hope will serve me someday on deadline. In the meantime, it just helps with my impatience.
Stuckness
I used to be the kind of writer who edited as she went. It took forever because I’d hyperfixate on certain elements and not move on. Or, I’d feel stuck and be unable to continue, because I wrote strictly chronologically. No more! Now, when I feel stuck and I don’t know what to write, I throw down an [[expand here]] and move on. Then I come back later when I’m fresh. If the chapter is only 200 words? OH well.
YMMV
Your milage may vary. Obviously this is just my process, and only a small part of it. But if you’re feeling stuck, if you have a need for speed, if you’re trying to silence your inner critic, try zero drafting and see what you think.
Other Updates
Writing
I’m still writing #CastleofCrowsWIP, my Slavic high fantasy, which still does not have a real title. I’m a little over 50k in. After a two week writing break, I tore the outline to shreds and overhauled it using advice from a bunch of craft books by K.M. Weiland and Holly Lisle. I especially loved Weiland’s books on Structure and Character Arcs. Made me realize that my act three was a mess.
So yeah, now I’m going through and expanding and also completely rewriting most of the third act. Wish me luck and here’s an aesthetic I made for it.
Reading
I’m slow af these days so I’m still reading The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri along with five other books that are on pause. TJT is good, I’ve just been (1) obsessed with Disney Dreamlight Valley and (2) tired and busy.
Arithmetic
Just kidding.
That’s all, folks
Thanks for coming! Look forward to next month when we celebrate a year of Rebellion.