Another font to try is Courier or Courier New - it mimics an old-time typewriter. It's not a finished draft, it's a work in progress (Comic Sans makes me think of comic strips - and those are finished pieces of art...not novels but still published)
Oh that is a great point! I don't read graphic novels so didn't make that connection. In that case I see that a different font would work better for you – it really is whatever font makes your brain see it as an unfinished draft. I love the idea of mimicking a typewriter!
I've heard that Comic Sans is actually a great font for teaching materials for kids, since every letter has a pretty distinct look and so it's easier for them to read. That being said, however, I still think that your idea to change the "novel" font to Comic Sans is pretty drastic. Have mercy!
Excellent advice. Im stuck in a rough draft situation and feeling all the garbage one feels while doing it. I may change the font color to evergreen and see if that loosens me up...
Working on my second book now, and it’s slow going with a three-year-old and a career change happening alongside. Thanks for these reminders. I actually might try Comic Sans. I initially thought, sure, but I should pick a font I can read more easily, but I could see myself taking forever to pick a stupid font to use, which is more procrastination! So, Comic Sans it is, haha!
Not being able to read it easily might be an added bonus if it stops you re-reading and editing! But yes, picking a new font is exactly the kind of thing I would spend hours procrastinating over...
I used to be the "write a little then go back and polish" kind of writer, and it took me nine years to get 30 pages into a novel. I eventually tossed that project for the novel I finished at a clip of ~1,000 words a day, only looking back as far as the previous day's stint, and finished the first draft in four months.
It's kind of like using one of those dog bowls with pegs in it to slow your eating. But my brain still finds ways to overthink and thwart itself anyway. Like, it flips the bowl over so I can just gobble off the floor, unimpeded.
I'm about to try Comic Sans literally this very minute. Wish me luck! And thank you!
I bought an electric Smith Corona that’s just a couple years older than me. Impossible to even correct a typo, and they are legion. It changed everything since I’m just making pages of words that are so clearly a first draft, which I have to retype to even get into my scrivener scene documents. It’s also satisfying to at least make physical pages that represent tangible progress.
I used to send out PTA newsletters in Comic Sands - that's my defence of it!
When I hit a sticky bit that's threatening to block me, I try to skip ahead. I'll put CAPS LOCK on and write something, in the middle of the text, to remind me what's supposed to be there eg THEY HAVE A BIG ARGUMENT AND HE STORMS OUT AND THEN SHE FINDS THE SECRET THINGY and then I move on to a later scene where I have more idea what to write. I fix the missing bits in a first edit, before it goes to my editor. What works for me is to maintain forward momentum at all times, even if it means leaving bits out to come back to.
It's hard, but writing a novel is such a process and as you say you have to focus on the phase you're in – and at first draft stage it will probably not be much like the final product you're working towards!
Love these tips! Thank you for sharing.
You are so welcome – thank you for reading!
Another font to try is Courier or Courier New - it mimics an old-time typewriter. It's not a finished draft, it's a work in progress (Comic Sans makes me think of comic strips - and those are finished pieces of art...not novels but still published)
Oh that is a great point! I don't read graphic novels so didn't make that connection. In that case I see that a different font would work better for you – it really is whatever font makes your brain see it as an unfinished draft. I love the idea of mimicking a typewriter!
I've heard that Comic Sans is actually a great font for teaching materials for kids, since every letter has a pretty distinct look and so it's easier for them to read. That being said, however, I still think that your idea to change the "novel" font to Comic Sans is pretty drastic. Have mercy!
Okay, this is a good defence for Comic Sans! I will concede it has its uses...
Oh, don't worry. I hate this fact as well ;)
Excellent advice. Im stuck in a rough draft situation and feeling all the garbage one feels while doing it. I may change the font color to evergreen and see if that loosens me up...
Yes, try it! Lovely, non-polished-novel evergreen! First drafts always have a bit of garbage and a lot of rough writing in there. Keep going!!
Working on my second book now, and it’s slow going with a three-year-old and a career change happening alongside. Thanks for these reminders. I actually might try Comic Sans. I initially thought, sure, but I should pick a font I can read more easily, but I could see myself taking forever to pick a stupid font to use, which is more procrastination! So, Comic Sans it is, haha!
Not being able to read it easily might be an added bonus if it stops you re-reading and editing! But yes, picking a new font is exactly the kind of thing I would spend hours procrastinating over...
I used to be the "write a little then go back and polish" kind of writer, and it took me nine years to get 30 pages into a novel. I eventually tossed that project for the novel I finished at a clip of ~1,000 words a day, only looking back as far as the previous day's stint, and finished the first draft in four months.
It's kind of like using one of those dog bowls with pegs in it to slow your eating. But my brain still finds ways to overthink and thwart itself anyway. Like, it flips the bowl over so I can just gobble off the floor, unimpeded.
I'm about to try Comic Sans literally this very minute. Wish me luck! And thank you!
Good luck! Love the image of your brain just chucking everything out and gobbling off the floor...!
I bought an electric Smith Corona that’s just a couple years older than me. Impossible to even correct a typo, and they are legion. It changed everything since I’m just making pages of words that are so clearly a first draft, which I have to retype to even get into my scrivener scene documents. It’s also satisfying to at least make physical pages that represent tangible progress.
Oh yes, having the physical pages must feel very satisfying!
I used to send out PTA newsletters in Comic Sands - that's my defence of it!
When I hit a sticky bit that's threatening to block me, I try to skip ahead. I'll put CAPS LOCK on and write something, in the middle of the text, to remind me what's supposed to be there eg THEY HAVE A BIG ARGUMENT AND HE STORMS OUT AND THEN SHE FINDS THE SECRET THINGY and then I move on to a later scene where I have more idea what to write. I fix the missing bits in a first edit, before it goes to my editor. What works for me is to maintain forward momentum at all times, even if it means leaving bits out to come back to.
This is a great idea (skipping ahead to a bit you're ready to write, not using Comic Sans!).
It's hard, but writing a novel is such a process and as you say you have to focus on the phase you're in – and at first draft stage it will probably not be much like the final product you're working towards!