How not to be boring

Does your writing bore you sometimes?

You're not alone. Even though I'm crazy about the novel I'm currently writing, last week I drafted a chapter that was a complete snooze-fest. Honestly, it's a wonder I stayed awake long enough to finish it.

And you know what? That's totally fine. Not every sentence, scene, or chapter is going to come out shiny and sparkling. Does that mean you cross your fingers and hope readers won't notice? Absolutely not. It means you leave it for now—then edit it (perhaps heavily) after you're done with your entire draft.

As my coaching clients can attest, I'm a fan of writing in a linear fashion, going from page one to the final paragraph without making major edits. As Joyce Carol Oates said, "The first sentence can’t be written until the last sentence is written." No matter how much you outline, there are certain things about your plot and characters that you simply won't know until you’ve typed "The End." Editing an incomplete draft is like trying to get to a new destination using half a map. It just doesn't work.

Regardless, boredom isn't a burden; it's an incredible tool. It tells you there's work to be done. Now, you might be thinking, "Sure, but how do I know if what I'm writing's actually interesting?" We read in order to have an emotional experience. So notice: are you laughing when you write a funny scene, getting teary when your characters grapple with loss, or tensing up as you put your protagonist through hell? That's a sign you're onto something.

If you're not sure how to create big emotions in your writing, ask yourself what you'd want to read next if you were reading your own book. Then give it your best shot—without being overly attached to the outcome. After all, no matter how good your first draft is, it's only a first draft. And isn't that a relief?

Camille