#264. First Draft Mistakes: Jessica Brody & Savannah Gilbo Compare Notes

What are the most common first-draft mistakes writers make—and which ones actually need your attention while you’re drafting?

In this episode, I’m joined by Jessica Brody, author of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and Page One to Done, to compare the mistakes we see writers make when writing a first draft. The fun part? We each brought our own list and didn’t compare notes before hitting record.

From underdeveloped antagonists and vague character goals to revision spirals and focusing on chapters too early, we’re breaking down what can make a first draft harder than it needs to be—and which problems can safely wait until revision.

Here’s what we talk about:

• [06:35] Why an underdeveloped antagonist can leave your novel without enough meaningful conflict—especially in the messy middle.
• [09:30] Why a protagonist can have a clear story goal and still leave you wondering what they should actually do from scene to scene.
• [12:15] What happens when you keep researching, brainstorming, or outlining because you don’t feel “ready” to start writing your first draft.
• [16:00] Why revising while you draft can feel productive—even when it’s keeping you from reaching The End.
• [22:40] Why focusing on chapter length, openings, and cliffhangers too early can distract you from the more important job of writing strong scenes.

If you’re writing your first novel—or you’re stuck somewhere in the middle of a messy first draft—this episode will help you recognize what might be slowing you down, what can wait until revision, and how to keep moving forward without expecting your first draft to be perfect.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Jessica Brody Website 
• Writing Master Academy
• Join the Notes to Novel Waitlist

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