4 Productivity Traps: The Writing Mistakes that Kill Your First Draft (and How to Avoid Them)

Most recently, I finished a 112,000-word draft in three months. I’ve published three books, completed four first drafts, hold a Master’s in Behavior Analysis, and, yes, I have made every single one of the mistakes I’ve shared here. So, let me walk you through how I did it, and what not to do, so you can avoid the missteps that slowed me down.

1. Don't Edit While Writing

Sounds obvious, right? It’s not. There’s a perfectionist in every writer, and it tends to show up at exactly the wrong moment, like when you're drafting your novel.

Take it from me: while writing the sequel to my YA sci-fi series, I made this exact mistake. I’d sit down to write, glance over the previous chapter to “get in the flow,” and end up stuck editing instead of moving forward. By the time I hit the midpoint, three months had passed—and I was completely lost in the story. The edits were tangled in my head, and I couldn’t figure out where the plot was supposed to go.

That’s how I hit the dreaded writer’s block. And this one didn’t just last a few days, it took six months to shake.

Could I have avoided it? Maybe not entirely. But if I’d just pushed through and finished the first draft instead of rewriting endlessly, I could’ve saved myself half a year of frustration.

Now, here’s the tricky part: if you're completely lost and your gut is telling you the draft is broken beyond repair, sometimes the best move is to throw it out. That’s okay. At least you won’t waste time trying to patch up something that isn’t working.

But! Be careful not to confuse a messy draft with a bad one. Hating your story is normal. That’s not your gut talking, that’s your inner critic trying to slow you down. Ignore it.

You have to remember: a first draft isn’t the book—it’s the story you’re telling yourself. I like to imagine myself in a London pub, scribbling on a dirty napkin. The story’s there, greasy, a little crumpled, maybe with food stains, but it’s real. And even if I toss it later, I’ll remember what mattered and carry that into the next version.

One of the biggest mistakes new authors make is thinking the first draft needs to be either perfect or publishable. That mindset leads to two outcomes: you never get past the midpoint, or you think you’re mess of a patchwork is ready to be published. Neither is helpful. Don't forget. The first draft is not supposed to be perfect or be published; it's the first step in a long but rewarding process of becoming an author.

So if you can keep that perfectionist voice quiet and just write—without editing, without overthinking—you’ll already be ahead of most people who try to write a book.

But okay—now that you’ve kicked the perfectionist out… how do you actually finish the draft? How do you make time for it? How do you stay motivated?

2. Don't Wait for Inspiration

You’ll hear a lot of advice about writing routines. Some say it’s deeply personal. Some swear by waiting for inspiration, writing when the muse strikes, and burning through four chapters in a single sitting before disappearing for weeks. I’ve tried that method.

And honestly? I don’t think it works, at least not if you want to become a part-time or full-time author.

If writing is a hobby for you, that’s wonderful. Write when you feel like it. Enjoy the process. But if your goal is to publish, grow a readership, or build a writing career, casual writing habits just won’t cut it.

Here’s what I’ve learned from experience:

• It took me three years to write the first draft of my YA sci-fi debut. I wrote when I could, an hour here, thirty minutes there. I had no idea what I was doing. No process, no strategy, just vibes and stubbornness. And that’s okay, it was my first book. First drafts are messy. Give yourself grace.

But then I wrote two more books.

One was the sequel to that YA sci-fi, which I struggled with. The other, a speculative fiction project I was passionate about. Guess which one I finished faster?

I finished the sequel, 112,000 words, in under three months. Why? Because I treated it like a job. I wrote in three-hour blocks every weekday, even when I didn’t feel like it. Meanwhile, the speculative project, which I only wrote when I was “inspired,” took over five months to reach 65,000 words.

It really is that simple: the more time you spend with your story, the more progress you make. Not just in word count, but in clarity, flow, and consistency. The inspired writer version of me spent less time writing, more time thinking, researching, and procrastinating.

We live in an age of constant distraction: scrolling, chores, family, and burnout. Waiting for inspiration might work in a slower world. But here, you have to carve out the time, sit down, and write anyway. Especially when you don’t feel like it.

Because the truth is: motivation is rare. Habits are reliable.

So now you know you shouldn’t edit while writing, and that showing up matters more than waiting for inspiration. But that raises a big question:

How do you actually show up when it's hard and make time to finish your draft?

3. Build Systems, Not Guilt

If you’re like me, you love writing… but hate the five minutes it takes to sit down and actually start. Classic procrastination. It’s not the writing that’s hard—it’s the idea of writing that feels impossible. A weird contradiction I wrestle with daily.

That’s where behavioral tools come in.

Building habits isn’t just helpful. It’s essential. Because let’s be honest: writing a book is hard. And consistency is what gets it done.

One book I highly recommend is Atomic Habits by James Clear. But if you’re not into reading a full behavioral science book right now, let me give you the short version of what’s worked for me.

Here are four brain-hack tools that keep me writing:

1. Habit Stacking

Pair your writing time with something you already do every day—like making coffee. When you always sit down to write right after your coffee, your brain starts preparing for writing as soon as the kettle boils. It lowers resistance and removes decision-making. I don’t think, I just write after coffee. No mental battle required.

2. Time Blocking

Instead of saying, “I’ll write for three hours,” I say, “Just ten minutes.” When I’m in the zone, I’ll stretch it to 90 minutes. When I’m not, I use short sprints: 10–15 minutes, quick break, then repeat. My goal isn’t word count—it’s time spent with the story. This trick makes even the worst writing days feel doable. This is how I was able to finish my first book, even when I didn't believe in myself.

3. Priming the Setting

Pick one place where you only write. No emails, no scrolling, no multitasking. Whether it’s a corner of your couch, a desk, or a spot on the floor—make it sacred. Your brain will start to associate that space with focus. Add headphones and a writing playlist or no sounds at all, and you’ve got a tiny, powerful sanctuary.

4. Token Economy (a.k.a. Stickers!)

This one sounds silly—but trust me, it works.

I print a simple weekly writing tracker. Every time I hit a writing goal, I get to put a sticker on it. Colorful, sparkly, childlike joy. That tiny dopamine hit? It’s shockingly motivating. So no shame here: I reward my grown-up writing goals with stickers, and sometimes a pack of Pokémon cards.

Writing a book is a long game. If you can find simple, science-backed ways to show up consistently—even when you're tired, distracted, or not in the mood—you’ll finish what most people never do.

And sometimes, a little sticker is all it takes.

However, in recent years, I have found another issue. Something that kills my ambitions and writing goals. My addiction to my phone.

4. Don't Touch Your Phone

One of the biggest mistakes I’m still struggling with is my phone. It pulls me away from everything, especially writing. Even if I follow all the habits I mentioned above, if I check my phone in the morning, I’m already groggy, scattered, and creatively fogged before 10 a.m.

I’ve resisted this truth for years: The worst thing I can do for my writing is pick up my phone in the morning.

I don’t think I’m alone here. Even with screen time limits, the few minutes I spend scrolling drain what I need to write well.

But here’s the contradiction: as authors, we need to be online. Our community is there. Our readers are there. Inspiration, marketing, connection—it all lives on the internet. I've seen brilliant video essays spark new ideas, and writing advice threads remind me why I love storytelling. But too often, it comes at the cost of the actual writing.

And that’s the dilemma: With it, I write less. Without it, I reach fewer people.

Still, at the end of the day, I want to be an author readers can trust—someone who consistently delivers books worth your time, no matter the genre. To do that, I have to protect my writing time. Right now, that means not touching my phone until I’ve written.

I’ll be honest, I don’t always succeed. But when I do, everything feels sharper. Maybe I’ll invest in one of those timed phone safes. I’ll let you know if it works.

Now that you are going to avoid all my mistakes, you will finish that draft in no time.

You Did It!

You just spent three to six months, maybe a year or two, on your manuscript. It’s got plot holes, grammar gremlins, and maybe your main character changed genders halfway through. But guess what? You finished. Pat yourself on the back. Eat that cake you’ve been craving. Buy that special edition of your favorite book you still haven’t read.

Now… delete the manuscript. Just kidding. (Mostly.)

You don’t have to throw it out. Sometimes you will. Sometimes you won’t. But with every draft, you get better at knowing how you tell stories best. First drafts aren’t supposed to be polished—they’re supposed to be messy, brave, and full of the right kind of mistakes. They’re the skeleton. The raw puzzle pieces. Now you get to shape them into something solid.

So take a deep breath. Celebrate the chaos. And get ready to head into the editing trenches—because now, the “fun” begins.

Want to learn more about the behavioral techniques I use? Please reach out to writer.strand@gmail.com