Drafting Archives - Robin Catling

Five tasks on page one

According to writing coach Eva Langston, any novel has to complete five tasks on page one. We can agree those […]

Robin Catling / February 9, 2026

How many drafts does it take to finish a book? Is there an ideal number? And what counts as a

Robin Catling / December 10, 2025

The writer’s software ‘Fictionary’ works on thirty-eight elements of story. It’s a long and thorough list of goals, objectives and

There are five elements of Universal Story that are the foundation of every successful novel. So says writer and coach

A recent writing craft video by the ‘Bookfox’ considered a novel’s nine opening promises. What promises should an author make?

What makes a good first draft of a novel? The key essential: completion. Until you finish the first draft, you

Robin Catling / February 3, 2025

There are more than five first draft mistakes you can make in a novel. But I read through editor Ellen

Robin Catling / October 23, 2023

First-page speed-dating; full of nervous anticipation you sit down knowing nothing about the ‘date’ in front of you. Will your

Working hard to complete Book Three, I’m building on the foundations of a Dirty Draft. But what exactly do I

A question or an obsession; how do I write a strong opening chapter? How do I hook the reader and