First Draft in 30 Days: A Novel Writer's System for Building a Complete and Cohesive Manuscript

by Karen Wiesner

Finish an outline so complete it reads like a first draft—in just 30 days!
Say goodbye to writing and rewriting with no results. Starting—and finishing—your novel has never been easier!
First Draft in 30 Days provides you with a sure-fire system to reduce time-intensive rewrites and avoid writing detours. Award-winning author Karen S. Wiesner's 30-day method shows you how to create an outline so detailed and complete that it actually doubles as your first draft. Flexible
and customizable, this revolutionary system can be modified to fit any writer's approach and style. Plus, comprehensive and interactive worksheets make the process seem less like work and more like a game. This invaluable resource also includes:
-Itemized and flexible schedules to keep you focused each and every day
-Dozens of detailed worksheets to guide you through the outlining process
-Completed sample worksheets inspired by best-selling novels
-Tips for outlining projects already in development
-Brainstorming techniques to keep you motivated
-Goal sheets for getting—and keeping—your career on track
Many aspiring and experienced novelists toss out hundreds of pages (and waste valuable time) before they have a workable first draft of a novel. You don't have to fall into this category anymore. With First Draft in 30 Days, you'll have the tools you need to write your masterpiece!

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, How To, Self Help, Adult

216 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

About the author

Creating realistic, unforgettable characters one story at a time…

In addition to being a popular writing reference instructor and writer, professional blurbologist and freelance editor, Karen Wiesner is the accomplished author of 144 titles published in the past 25 years, which have been nominated/won 134 awards, with 19 more releases contracted for spanning many genres and formats.

Karen's multi-award-winning and bestselling Incognito Series (romantic action/adventure/suspenses) has been revised and reissued.

Karen’s first foray into her favorite genre, romantic science fiction, is available now with the Arrow of Time Chronicles, including IMMUTABLE, INEVITABLE, INDELIBLE, and INDOMITABLE.

Karen's award-winning Denim Blues Mysteries (Christian romantic mystery trilogy with a private investigator, police procedural and amateur sleuth installment) is available now.

Karen writes the multi-award-winning Falcon’s Bend Series (police procedural mysteries) with author Chris Spindler of Auenwald, Germany. Books 1-6 and three novellas collections are available now.

Karen’s multi-award-winning Family Heirlooms Series (Christian romances) is now available. Books 1-7 of the spin-off series, Friendship Heirlooms Series, are also available. All titles are set in Karen's fiction town of Peaceful, Wisconsin. Her Peaceful Pilgrim Series is set in Peaceful, a modern-day small community with old-fashioned values and friendly people you'll want to get to know and visit often. Available now are HOME, Book 1; DESTINY, Book 2; ONCE UPON A CLICHÉ, Book 3; and A PERFECT MATCH, Book 5. Look for four more books in the series with REKINDKLED, Book 6, 2022; HEARTS ABLAZE, Book 4, 2022; AFTER THE GLITTER FADES, Book 7, 2023; and EXILED HEARTS, Book 8, 2023.

Karen’s Bloodmoon Cove Spirits Series focuses on ghosts and horror and is set in her fictional Erie County, Wisconsin. Books 1-6 are now available. Books 7-12 as well as the first novella collection will be published between 2022-2024.

Karen’s Wounded Warriors Series (women’s fiction) and Gypsy Road Series (contemporary romances) have been revised and reissued along with her Angelfire Trilogy (contemporary romances). The spin-off series, Angelfire II Quartet, is also available now including ONLY THE LONELY, MIDNIGHT ANGEL, SHADOWS OF THE NIGHT, and PROMISES IN THE DARK.

Karen's writing reference titles include the bestselling FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS as well as WRITING THE FICTION SERIES: The Guide for Novels and Novellas, BRING YOUR FICTION TO LIFE: Crafting Three-Dimensional Stories with Depth and Complexity, WRITING BLURBS THAT SIZZLE--AND SELL!. THE POWER OF PROMOTIONAL GROUPS, and COHESIVE STORY BUILDING. Her new writing reference is titled CPR FOR DEAD OR LIFELESS FICTION: A Writer's Guide to Deep and Multifaceted Development and Progression of Characters, Plots, and Relationships.

Karen’s book of poetry, Soul Bleeds The Poetry, Melodies, and Other Wanderings of Karen Wiesner (previously released as Soul Bleeds The Dark Poetry and Other Wanderings of K.S. Wiesner), is available now, reissued and expanded.

Karen also writes children's books including TAKING RESPONSIBILITY BUILDS TRUST (Making Good Choices Series, Book 1) has been reissued. TAKING CARE OF YOUR THINGS (Making Good Choices Series, Book 2) will be reissued TBA. KERI IS CUTE CUTE CUTE; I CAN TOUCH THE SKY; and CODY KNOWS with Linda Derkez are currently out of print.

From 2003 to 2014, Karen was the founding member of Jewels of the Quill, a popular promotional group of women authors that was featured in the September 2003 issue of RT Book Reviews. Jewels of the Quill produced two award-winning group anthologies per year from 2005-2011 (all currently out of print). Karen edited all 14 anthologies and designed the covers as well as contributing a novella to each. With the group anthologies, Karen started many new series’, which have been revised and reissued along with the single title novellas:

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a persuasive title designed to grab your attention and sell copies. A more accurate title might be How to Write a Complete Outline for your Novel In 30 Days. But I can understand why they didn't go that way. Spending 30 days writing an outline doesn't sound very exciting.

However, when Karen Wiesner talks outline, she's referring to a scene-by-scene outline that's about one quarter as many pages as the finished manuscript to be. And when you finish an outline like this, writing the book ought to be easy (she says it will be), because you've spent 30 days figuring out the hardest parts.

Wiesner knows her stuff. She developed and refined her method during the course of writing over 50 novels. She describes her process in great detail over about 150 pages and provides pages and pages of helpful worksheets in the back. You can download copies from her website as well.

Wiesner's approach may be too confining for writers who subscribe to the "pantser" approach, but there's enough good advice about story structure and all of the elements that go into writing a novel, that it's still worthwhile, even if you swear you'll never outline.

The outline approach has always had some appeal for me, I just never really knew how to do it until now. This book leaves few if any questions on how to get the job done. I admire Wiesner's work ethic and her business-like approach to her writing career.

Most books about writing are textbooks in one way or another. This one is definitely more like a textbook than others I've read. It's not a light reading experience, but it's packed with useful information and advice from a professional author who knows her subject inside and out.

[Lisa (Harmonybites) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An editor once told me that if you're going to take advice on writing, take it either from name-bestselling writers or gatekeepers such as acquiring editors or agents--not necessarily anyone who writes for Writer's Digest or has taught a writing class. By those terms Karen Wiesner doesn't qualify. I bought this book anyway for one reason--there really isn't much out there that gives you much guidance about how to construct plots, and I had a half-written novel on my hands that was stuck. Well, there may be good reason for such a lack. Stephen King, at least, is of the opinion that plots are found things--like fossils he said--or, I guess, grist in an oyster. Other authors, such as Terry Brooks and Elizabeth George do disagree--they're big believers in outlines, and I keep this on my shelves in the hope that someday this will work for me--if not on the old project, then another. If I ever do and it works, I'll amend this review.

[Scarlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading and highlighting (the inside looks like a disorded rainbow) I got a few tips, I have trouble to read to between the lines even in mine own language. I will definitely be trying the 30-method but I'm not sure when. There are a few things that botherd me while I was read this book.
- The continues word "reader". I will never be writing for readers so that they can be pleased. The only I have to please is myself, not some faceless person on the other side of the globe.
- The time management. In 30 days to complete your first draft sounds to me as impossible, maybe it is not if you if it's the only thing you did and it sounds great. But when I start trying I will need a whole of time more than just 30 days.
- This sentence bother the most: "The villain may rear its ugly head." Sorry that I have to say this but not every evil guy is ugly! I know a quit few villains in the written word are quit plesant to the eyes.

[Jennifer Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me to get my first novel written -- I'm grateful that I found this book. I use a slight variation of the outline techniques discussed for all of my novels. It's worth checking out for anyone who wants to write their first novel or anyone who has already written several books. Everyone can learn something from this book.

[Izzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My complaints:

The title is misleading. It is not telling you how to write a first draft in 30 days, it's telling you how to create a detailed outline in 30 days.
The font is tiny! I think it's Times new Roman sized 8/9. I'm short sighted and so the tiny font made it very hard to read.

[Chaunce Stanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Planning a book before writing a book seems off-putting to many writers who would rather dive in to Scene One and just see what happens. Having written in that manner for my first novel, and then having to spend a lot of time in rewrite, I can say from firsthand experience that "pantsing" - flying by the seat of the pants - is definitely one way to write, but not the most efficient way.

If you are a hardcore pantser, don't bother picking up this book. Chances are you're too stubborn to take anything away from this method, but that would not be the fault of Wiesner. She does an excellent job of laying out practical, step-by-step directions for creating an outline that is well constructed and that gives you a solid daily blueprint for creating the final draft.

Others have commented on the title being misleading. While it's true that you won't have a finished first draft at the end of thirty days, you would have a killer outline, with character and plot fleshed out, so that you can create a strong first draft that requires little revision.

...and if you're like me and have a full-time "day job" in addition to writing books, I wouldn't hold too much stock in the "30 Days" part. But even if it take three calendar months to complete the steps Wiesner outlines, I will still be ahead of my former "pantsing" schedule.

Another advantage of having a full outline BEFORE writing Chapter One, Scene One: no writer's block. Your outline will tell you exactly what you need to flesh out for that day's writing. No waiting for inspiration. Save the inspiration for new ideas, new stories, new twists, even. (The outline is still flexible, so if you get a sudden flash, you can incorporate it, but you would no longer be at the mercy of the Muse.)

I have two other books in process already, complete with "Chapter One, Scene One" already written, but Wiesner even has a section for writers in this situation. I will be applying her method to those two books and the ones waiting in the wings.

If you're a Scrivener user, you will recognize some of the worksheets used in conjunction with the "30-day" method as part of the character and scene templates available within Scrivener. I'm going to give the method a go in longhand first, but one could just as easily begin in Scrivener.

[Pippi Bluestocking]

(+)

+ Is a lot more than a simple what to do on each day; lots of short and sweet advice on writing, pretty much everything you need in a very condensed form.
+ Strongest point: the plot outline.
+ Pantsers (*raises hand*) will surely benefit, though might find it intimidating at first.
+ Encouraging and helpful to have in arm's length. Handy method that works.
+ Some surprisingly cool advice near the end.

(-)

- Not writing a first draft but a complete, detailed outline. The first draft is what you'll write based on that. And then a second. Third. Many more.
- It seems impossible to do this in 30 days in the way the author breaks it down. Maybe two months.
- Hideous cover.

[Charlotte Tressler · Rating 4 out of 5]

After spending over five years pantsing (writing by the seat of my pants) my way through writing my first novel (it's currently out for a second round of beta reading), I wanted to investigate ways of organizing the process so that any future works wouldn't take over my life and take so flippin' long to complete.
First Draft in 30 Days lays out a cohesive system that promises to make the planning and completion of a project more manageable and definitely less pantsy while still allowing room for working in unexpected revelations that are bound to come up during the writing process.
I have three possible premises floating around in my head right now. I'm going to give it a try.

[Margit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I followed this process pretty much during the month of October, 2011 to outline my first novel, although for the character sketches, I used some questions I found in other books in addition to the ones she suggests. I found the book and the resulting detailed outline incredibly useful when writing the actual novel during NaNoWriMo in November (I was able to finish my ~60,000 word novel on December 1st, having written the 3k word prologue the last few days of October, ~54k words in Nov, and the rest on 12/1.)

[Mia Siegert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm mixed about this book. There are some things I kind of glossed over because they didn't apply to my type of writing, but the section on re-outlining and working on a completed draft was very interesting. Going to be attempting to use these methods for a current project.

So, I liked it, but I don't think it's the right manual for me.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've checked this book out twice wanting to like it, but the title is misleading and I don't have the patience for it. The title SHOULD be "First OUTLINE in 30 Days", because it talks about planning instead of drafting...

[LeAnne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry. I couldn't do it. This is more a detailed outline than a first draft and I just don't think that way.

[Jenny Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great writing guide, especially for writers who need a schedule to meet their writing deadlines. It breaks it down step-by-step.

[Martine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was skeptical when I started reading this book today, but I think it's changed my entire opinion about outlining. Worth a read if you're a writer with a couple hours to spare.

[paigeneverreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 ⭐️
This book needed a better outline. Because why was there a titled section about how getting a second opinion is important and the only thing that was said was that getting a second opinion is important? Was the author trying to hit a word count? That’s not even the only section where the author was droning on about the same thing for a whole page and a half. I kid you not, I read the first sentence of one of the sections and skipped five paragraphs and SHE WAS STILL SAYING THE SAME THING IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
Not gonna lie this book could’ve been an email. I don’t even think I would recommend it for beginners.
However, I like a structured timeline of when and where to outline certain parts of a novel. And at least she details it in a plan that might help beginners estimate how much time to spend planning a specific section.

But, like I said… email.

[Zara West · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of wonderful information for planning your novel. What it doesn't do is get your draft done in 30 days. rather, it gets a detailed outline done. The title misnomer is corrected in the book blurb, but still this is disappointment I should think to anyone hoping to learn how to fast draft. It also suggests some very arbitrary time spans. For example, research is allotted 7 days which may be fine for a contemporary romance, but is far from sufficient for a scifi or a historical novel.
On the other hand, I found that the glossary and many wonderful worksheets at the end were excellent and very helpful.

I would recommend this book to writers honing their outlining skills, and those who benefit from premade workshops as guides.

[Michelle ☽⁺✧. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book on my shelf for years, knowing that it would help me to read it. Even if I didn't implement every part of the outline, just knowing how to do it would help the process because of how detailed it is.

It took me years to get to this book for a variety of reasons (mainly due to life just getting in the way of much of my reading and falling into a rut for a few years) but I can say now that it was still a worthy read. For anyone looking to write a book of their own, I would definitely check this one out.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall
This is a good tool for writers who are looking for help get their stories on paper.

Review
The book does a good job presenting a clear path to follow for creating a first draft. It is not overly complicated and provides good examples to help illustrate points. I did like the fact Karen Wiesner admits that writing your first draft could take more than 30 days. Speed comes with using the system but its more important the daft gets done. It also provides worksheets that can be used to further help the writer but make copies so you always have the originals. What I also enjoy was there was a section to help if you already have a draft written and you think it needs help.

[Ashlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this looking for advice on structuring a longer piece as I've never written a story longer than ~20 pages. There were some good ideas presented but the book is about 50% too long -- many ideas are repeated ad nauseam and there are way too many examples of filling in the worksheets she includes.

[Denver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting book for a different writing system that I just couldn't use. Nonetheless it was well laid out, well explained, and easily accessible to someone who can plug and play with systems not their own style.

I'd recommend this for people having trouble putting together a novel. It's a system that can work, just not my system.

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The method in "First Draft in 30 Days" seems very personal and/or specific to the author, a method which she shares with readers. I am not sure whether this style is for me, but the book is well-written and neatly organized with concepts and ideas thoroughly explained.

I enjoyed reading "First Draft..," and I did learn a new way of outlining a book and getting the first draft down on paper.

[Holli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised by all the comments about the book's title being misleading. When I originally got this one, I read the blurb on it and knew it was an outlining technique. The author also says on the first page you will be creating an outline so complete it qualifies as a first draft. What you write with the outline is the first full, and hopefully final, draft of your novel. I first used the technique outlined in this book to revise a novel I'd written. I have since used my own variation of it to outline others. I'm still getting the hang of it, but I have quite enjoyed this book's way of outlining and hope to continue to use it for other projects, adding to it and changing things until I find the way that it uniquely me. I like that examples are included in the book showing how each worksheet can be used. I've read some how-to books that tell you to do something then basically say "you're on your own, pal" on how exactly how to do what they said you need to for that aspect. For any interested in writing a novel, I say to give this book a try and see how it helps you to write and/or revise the creation you come up with. You might surprise yourself with what happens.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this book three stars for now because I haven't yet tried out the techniques in it. I really like the idea of a structured outline--I have a day job, so I need to be as efficient as possible with my writing time. However, because of said day job, I doubt 30 days is enough time to complete the tasks Wiesner assigns to 30 days.

Also, I'm still skeptical that after 30 days, the outline will be sufficiently strong enough to count as the first draft, and that the rest of the writing process will be easy. That sounds too good to be true.

I'm going to try out her techniques for creating an outline for a project that is already underway--I hope this makes the revision process more effective!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have found this book highly useful, but I can't say that it's perfect. Her terminology is garbled and her examples are often too straightforward to clearly express the points she's trying to make. Most of all, this is a book about detailed outlining of a novel. It actually has nothing to do with writing a first draft. The author claims that her outlines are so detailed that they count as a first draft, but I don't buy it and neither do most of her reviewers on Amazon.

In many ways, this book has been so helpful to me because it's so ambiguous. I have gotten a lot of work done from the process of trying to interpret her guidelines into something useful for my writing project.

[Gwnhwyfer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so much about writing a first draft, but rather about writing a very cohesive and detailed outline which Wiesner claims takes the part of a writer's first draft. Not sure if I buy into it, but I'm giving it a whirl. I had some quibbles over her habit of repeating certain things way too many times (her website, for example - once would have been quite enough; by the 4th/5th time it felt like self-promotion, which was not the point of the book) and there was some clunky bits I skimmed, but overall it was a solid portrayal of the writing system Wiesner developed and uses, with plenty of examples and a multitude of worksheets.

[Ann Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met First Draft in 30 Days when it came riding into my 40,000-words-too-short first draft on a white charger and delivered the tools to add subplots. I am forever grateful.

First Draft in 30 Days is the book I love to hate. Weisner takes a completely anal/analytical approach to laying out a novel which is diametrically opposed to my personality. However, ditzy, creative people need to impose order on their work or their books will never become cohesive. The story train needs to stay on the track, not chugging off into the countryside every fifteen minutes. Though I don't religiously follow her charts and worksheets, I gleaned a lot of plotting tips I've used in subsequent books.

[Adria Estribou · Rating 5 out of 5]

best writer's resource book I've found yet. I plan to use this at the start of every manuscript. note: the title is misleading, it should be "complete outline in 30 days" because what you end up with is a plot summary, plot arc, outline and short blurb about every scene (which is a lot to accomplish in 30 days!) Before reading this book I was worried that plotting things out in advance was uncreative (with disasterous results for a shelved first novel). Wiesner's processess allow for a lot of creativity at the same time as a plot that works.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is your best weapon if you have an idea in your head but no idea how it is going to morph into novel form. It's practical, no nonsense, and forces you to sit down and shape a story. I first tried it with a two characters I loved but for whom I had no story, and after a week, there was a novel planned for them. I now use these steps for every novel I outline.

The second half of the book gets repetitive for me. After two brief outlines my fingers are itching to write, so I only use the first half of this process, but I still credit this book with my last two completed novel drafts.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for writers who need structure or a place to begin. I started reading it while I was already well into my work-in-progress. I am using it as a tool to clarify my writing goals and to tweak my first draft.

The details it makes me explore give me a place from which to begin again when the dreaded blank page is staring me in the face. I enjoyed the idea so much that I have already purchased her next book - From First Draft to Finished Novel.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Karen, thank heavens I found you! I did so want to write a novel before I turned 80. Now it seems I can write 80 before 80. Let's see, if I'm X years old and do 4-5 books a year, then multiply that by the number of years it will take me to reach 80 and, wait - - how many is that? Oh that's right, I'm not tellin'! Let's just say that, with your outlining system, it is theoretically possible.

So, what do you know about skincare? ;)