How to Write a First Draft like a Pantser (As Told by Transformer Gifs)

Happy Wednesday (and February)!

I loved starting the new year off with a three part series on my writing journey. It was fun not just for me to recap and to see how far I've come, but also to share a little of what I've learned over the years and to get to interact with others about what they've learned and their writing journey too.

For February though, I wanted to start out with something fun. I realized, I've written quite a few posts about my revision process. I guess, probably because revision is always the hardest and longest part for me. Drafting, for me anyways, is the relatively easy part. But I wanted an excuse to use lots of Transformers gifs because I love those movies so much and I think there are some pretty hilarious gifs to be found in those movies, so here is my drafting process (as told by Transformer gifs cus why not?).

Get the Idea

Aww Bee's the best 😍

Start writing said Idea without any planning at all. Beginnings are always super easy for me, so I just fly through the first 10,000-20,000 words. Everything's all well and good. I'm having a great time. This story is amazing. Wow, I'm a great writer. Writing is so easy!

Me starting a new WIP 

And then... usually around the 25,000-30,000 word mark is when I hit the dreaded middle. Middles are the literal hardest. The story starts to get complicated. I have to actually start making stuff up, giving my characters a super hard time. Relationships are formed. Bonds are tested. Lots of stuff happens. And I realize... writing is really hard.

My brain when I get to the middle of a story lol (this was my fave movie of the original trilogy btw)

I trudge through the muddy middle. There are about three books that I've written in my entire life that the middle wasn't hard for me. And even then, it required a lot of stopping and planning stuff out and plotting and thinking as I write.

Me realizing I still have a long way to go before the end 

Then the climax is in sight. There is hope that it is nearing the end! Usually for me, I rush through the climax and to the end. I get too impatient to wait another second to finish this book, so I just sit down and write for however long it takes to finish it.

Don't freak out... keep your cool, you're almost done with the book! 😱

You finish the first draft! It's the most amazing feel in the world. You wrote a whole book and that is pretty spectacular! Now go eat chocolate and read a book and celebrate!

Again... Bee is the literal best and the Bumblebee movie was perfection 😍

So there you have it, how to write a first draft as a pantser (or at least, how this pantser writes a first draft). Hopefully middles are a little easier for you than they are for me haha. It was harder than I thought it would be to find gifs that would work for this post, but it was so fun nonetheless.

How do you write your first draft? Do you plot before hand or just jump right in? 

Melody Personette is a YA author, book dragon and follower of Jesus. She's been writing since she can remember and now tells stories about the magic of hope, light in the darkness and love conquering all and is passionate about inspiring teens and young adults with her novels. Melody lives in the home she shares with her family in Indiana where she is a college student working toward her Bachelors in general studies, is an avid reader and tea lover. You can find her on her website at www.melodypersonette.com or connect with her on her blog at www.melodypersonetteauthor.blogspot.com where she talks about everything from writing, to faith, to her latest readers. You can also connect with her on instagram @_melody_author_