Finished Your Draft? Congrats! Now Ignore It Like a Bad 'Ex'

I am not kidding

You worked hard for month. You finished the first draft of your book. Kind of! Never mind if you haven’t been able to. You still deserve a pat on the back

Now, avoid it like a bad ‘Ex.’

Don’t open at it.

Don’t scroll through it.

Don’t try to fix things.

Just put it in the digital vault and throw away the key (or the password).

Whether it’s your first manuscript or your tenth, finishing a draft is an achievement worth celebrating.

But before you rush into edits and start doubting yourself, let me offer you some advice: take a break.

Yes, I mean it. Walk away from your draft for a while. It might feel counterintuitive, especially when the story is still fresh in your mind and you’re eager to make it perfect.

But trust me, stepping away at this point is one of the best things you can do for your book.

Why Taking a Break Matters

Writing a book is an emotional and intellectual marathon.

When you finish the first draft, you’re too close to your work. You know every character, scene, and plot twist inside out. But that level of intimacy with your story makes it almost impossible to see its flaws or its potential.

Here’s why stepping away helps:

1. Fresh Perspective: A break creates distance. When you return to your draft, you’ll read it more like a reader and less like the writer who created it. That fresh perspective is crucial for spotting inconsistencies, pacing issues, and plot holes.

2. Mental Recharge: Writing takes a toll on your creativity and mental energy. A break allows your mind to recharge, which will make the editing process more productive.

3. Ideas Percolate: Sometimes the best ideas come when you’re not actively working on the book. While you’re taking a break, your subconscious continues to process the story, often leading to unexpected insights.

Taking a Break Doesn’t Mean Losing Momentum

You’re not abandoning your book. You’re allowing it grow. Surprisingly, even during the break, you’re still working on your book. But only in your unconscious brain.

Here’s how to do it in a way that supports your creative process:

1. Set a Break Duration: Decide how long you’ll step away from your manuscript. For most writers, two to four weeks is ideal. It’s enough time to gain perspective without losing your connection to the story.

I usually leave my non-fiction book for two months before getting back to it. Fiction, I have left it for years, mainly because I didn’t have the skills to take it to the next level.

2. Celebrate Your Achievement: Finishing a draft is no small feat. Treat yourself to something special—a vacation, a dinner out, buy something new, or simply a day off to relax. Celebrating your progress reinforces the joy of writing.

3. Stay Creative (But in a Different Way): While you’re on a break, engage in other creative activities. Try painting, cooking, or journaling. These activities keep your creative muscles active without focusing directly on your manuscript.

4. Read for Inspiration: Use the time to read books in your genre or revisit old favorites. You’ll gain new insights into storytelling and craft that you can bring to your edits later.

5. Avoid Reading Your Draft: Resist the urge to peek at your manuscript during the break. Letting go completely is essential for gaining that fresh perspective.

Even Prolific Bestselling Authors Step Away

Stephen King, one of the most prolific and successful authors of our time, is a strong advocate for stepping away from a first draft. In his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, King advises writers to put their manuscripts in a drawer for at least six weeks.

During this time, he suggests to avoid the draft entirely. King uses the break to focus on other projects, read extensively, and let the story settle in his mind. When he returns to the manuscript, he approaches it with a fresh perspective, allowing him to identify weaknesses and improve the story with objectivity.

Lee Child, the bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series, is also a strong advocate for taking breaks. He’s known for his disciplined writing routine, where he writes a book in about six months and then steps away entirely before editing.

Child often says that stepping away helps him approach his drafts with a reader’s mindset. He treats the break as a period to “forget” what he wrote. When he returns, he can see the story’s strengths and weaknesses more objectively.

This method not only keeps his work fresh but also prevents burnout. By separating writing and editing into distinct phases, he ensures that he brings full energy and focus to each stage of the process.

Zadie Smith, acclaimed author of White Teeth and On Beauty, calls stepping away process as taking creative breaks which gives her time to reflect on the story without actively working on it.

What Happens When You Return

When your break is over, you’ll come back to your manuscript with fresh eyes. Here’s what you’ll likely notice:

• What Works: You’ll see the parts of your story that shine—the moments that make you think, “I wrote that?”

• What Doesn’t: You’ll spot areas that feel clunky, rushed, or confusing. These are your opportunities for improvement.

• New Ideas: With the distance you’ve gained, you might find new ways to approach scenes, characters, or even the structure of your book.

Taking a Break Is Part of the Process

Many writers feel guilty or anxious about taking a break after finishing a draft.

They worry about losing momentum or letting their story grow stale. But here’s the truth: a break is not a pause in your progress—it’s an essential part of the process.

Editing is where your story truly comes to life.

It’s where you refine your ideas, polish your prose, and shape your manuscript into something that readers will love. By taking a break, you set yourself up to approach this stage with clarity, creativity, and renewed enthusiasm.

While you’re reading this scheduled post, I’m on a much-needed creative break.

I’m spending a week in Rio de Janeiro before heading off on a cruise to Antarctica. Since there’s no Wi-Fi on board, I’m leaving my computer behind—a perfect opportunity to unplug. I plan to spend my time reading, sketching, and journaling about my travels. It’s the ideal break after a month of intense novel writing.

When I return, I won’t dive straight back into the novel. I’ll let it sit for another month or so before starting the editing process. 

Your Turn

Now that you’ve finished your first draft, take a deep breath and give yourself permission to step away.

Trust the process, and when you come back, you’ll be amazed at what you see.

I’d love to hear how you’re going to spend your time during the break.

Are you diving into other creative pursuits? Reading something inspiring?

Let me know in the comments or reply to this email.

Remember, writing a book is not just about putting words on the page. It’s about nurturing your story and yourself.

Taking a break is one of the best gifts you can give both.

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That’s all from me today!

As always, thanks for reading.