It’s writing coach Kevin T. Johns here.

These days, when I sit down to write, I do so with a heart filled with joy and enthusiasm. My fingers move across the keyboard with confidence and ease.

…but it wasn’t always that way.

It took me eight long years to write my first novel.

It was one step forward, two steps back, month after month, year after year.

I struggled with focus.

I’d have difficulty finding the time to write.

It often felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster ride, and the writing never seemed to end up on the page the way I’d envisioned it in my head.

The experience was creatively draining.

It’s physically and spiritually painful to know you have a novel within you but not know how to get it out.

Maybe it’s been the same for you?

You’re passionate about writing.

You have a story to share with the world but can’t get it onto the page.

Life’s responsibilities (family, friends, housework, the day job) always get in the way.

Sentences and story elements don’t seem to come together, and you find yourself stuck halfway through a project.

You’ve probably even had moments of darkness when you wondered whether you have the talent to write and publish a book.

The secret that no one ever tells writers is that publishing success is NOT about natural talent.

You also DON’T need to quit your job or ignore your family to get a book written.

You DON’T need to move to a cabin in the woods to find the time to write, and you definitely DON’T need to rely on drugs or alcohol to unlock your creativity.

Finding success as an author is a simple process involving focus, support, training, and accountability.

That’s it.

It’s really not that hard!

BUT no one ever teaches us how to write a book… so most of us are left thinking we’re either blessed by the muse or doomed to failure.

And when our writing isn’t as good, fast, or fun as we think it should be, we assume that means something is wrong with us.

This couldn’t be further from the truth.

When it came time to write the sequel for my first book, I wasn’t willing to spend another eight years struggling to get it done.

I became obsessed with productivity.

I deconstructed my workflow, eliminated everything slowing me down, and then sequenced the remaining steps to produce maximum results.

I took the vast project of writing a novel and turned it into an organized system that propelled me past the roadblocks that hold up so many writers.

I wrote the first draft of my second novel in eight weeks, NOT eight years.

Completing the first draft of your book might be the most challenging part of the entire journey to publication.

Emotional challenges, energy issues, loss of enthusiasm, or lack of productivity can easily send you way off course.

Plus, there are undoubtedly micro-level writer’s craft details, techniques, and formulas you’re not yet executing on in your scene-to-scene writing.

That’s precisely why I gathered all my best resources from a decade of coaching authors and created the FIRST DRAFT group coaching program and community.

FIRST DRAFT provides you with easy and instant access to ALL of the keys to first draft success.

The program’s outcome is simple: finish a first draft of your manuscript that reads like a third draft and was actually FUN to write.

FIRST DRAFT solves all the problems that prevent you from completing a fun and focused first draft of a book.

In FIRST DRAFT, we’ll stop you from worrying about the wrong things during the drafting process by focusing on the actions and strategies that lead to drafting momentum and writing productivity.

You’ll establish and implement project milestones, reasonable timelines, and word count tracking systems.

You’ll join a private community of writers who hold each other accountable throughout the drafting process.

You’ll also receive ongoing coaching and group learning to keep you laser-focused on what really matters while you draft your book.

The result?

Rather than going off-track, hitting blocks, being sucked into the “revisions maelstrom,” or getting distracted from your manuscript, you’ll make steady progress on your manuscript.

When it comes to drafting scenes, there are a whole bunch of micro-level writer’s craft techniques you’re probably not aware of yet or aren’t using regularly.

We’ll combat this skill gap so you can continue developing your writer’s craft skills while simultaneously making massive progress on your manuscript.

You’ll build up your writer’s craft skills with 25 training courses focused on drafting techniques, productivity strategies, and micro-level writer’s craft fundamentals.

We’ll have weekly hotseat sessions where I’ll review pages submitted by group members and then walk everyone through what is working in the scene and where it can be improved.

You’ll also use our group forum to access videos, books, and templates – including items I share from my vast collection of writer’s craft resources – to support your growth and continuing education as an author.

You’ll learn how to implement the skills necessary for drafting success from one scene to the next.

Writing a first draft isn’t easy, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be FUN.

Too many writers start strong, make it a quarter of the way through their manuscript (or even halfway through!) and then hit a wall where they lose interest and enthusiasm.

They start to second-guess their story, their approach, and even their talent as authors.

In FIRST DRAFT, you can turn that emotional rollercoaster ride into an emotionally fun and intellectually stimulating experience.

You’ll also receive ongoing feedback from me throughout the drafting process regarding where and how you can improve your scene-by-scene writing via weekly group question-and-answer office hours calls.

In addition, you’ll be matched with a new positivity partner each week. This partner will read your pages and provide you with ONLY positive feedback.

(This is an incredibly powerful technique, and you’ll be amazed at its effectiveness in keeping you excited and enthusiastic about your work.)

Drafting the book as part of a group program will allow you to benefit from the support and community atmosphere that can only be found amongst other artists going through the same process and encountering the same challenges as you.

We all have ups and downs while drafting a book, but the FIRST DRAFT program will ensure that when you reach a low point, you’ll have a community of like-minded authors and one of the world’s top writing coaches to pull you through the self-doubt and get you back on top of your writing game.

FIRST DRAFT is not a sprint to the finish that leaves you with a mess of a manuscript.

It’s not about all-nighters or a mad scramble to complete a first draft.

Instead, it’s a reasonably paced program that will keep you on track to achieving your goals without making you feel stressed or pressured.

If you finish your manuscript in less than six months, great!

But after almost a decade of working with writers (many of them first-time authors), I can assure you six months is a reasonable timeline to draft a manuscript while also taking care of your family, completing your day job responsibilities, and participating in all the other activities in your life.

We’ll meet on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm Eastern for a Question-and-Answer Office Hours session.

During this session, you can ask any questions you want about the writing process and your book in particular.

Then, we’ll meet again for a Hotseat Office Hours session on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

In this session, I’ll review pages submitted by program members and explain in detail exactly what is working and where and how scenes can be improved.

(NOTE: This is the exact process I use with my $1000-a-month one-on-one clients to get their books drafted and publication-ready.)

You’ll also continue to connect with the other program participants in our private online community (far away from the distractions and negativity of social media), where you can communicate with each other and me.

I’m in our community every day, offering support and advice.

In addition, you’ll get instant access to the FIRST DRAFT Training Library, featuring 25 training courses covering productivity techniques, approaches to scene structure, methods for developing opening pages agents love, how to write an unforgettable ending, and so much more.

Of course, you don’t have to watch these videos to learn this craft knowledge.

“Kevin’s coaching is a master’s class in creative writing and a crash course in how to get out of my own way.”

Laura Morano,

First Draft member

Working with Kevin and going through the First Draft program was hugely beneficial. The materials, community, and accountability greatly accelerated my writing process.

Phillip Wray

Author of A Charles de la Forêt Mystery series.

First Draft changed my life. It changed the way I write, and how I approach my writing. I learned new habits through accountability to my fellow writers, and new skills from Kevin’s teaching and editing. The biggest bonus is how much fun it is on our weekly calls. I’ve made new friendships and at the same time completed a 60,000+ word first draft in under 4 months. Highly recommend!

Sandy Day

Author of Odd Mom Out

Kevin’s passion and enthusiasm for writing is infectious. He always finds thought-provoking ways to guide the group through personal writing challenges and to be curious and playful with our writing. I always feel motivated when working with Kevin, and I am happy to say that I have finally finished the first draft of my novel!

Siobhan Maas,

First Draft member

For me, First Draft was the natural stepping stone from Kevin’s Story Plan program. He delivers on everything he says. His method of teaching is refreshing and I, for one, greatly appreciate that. Under his tutelage, I was able to plan and complete a 100,000+ word first draft in 5 months. To say it changed the way I write is an understatement. The difference is like night and day. I expected to learn about writing and I did, but I didn’t expect that it would also be so much fun. Without Kevin’s program, at age 76, I doubt I would ever have come this far. The materials for study are usually short and easy to understand. The community created is one of encouragement for everyone. I wish I had started earlier. I would very highly recommend Kevin’s programs.

Rick Bradshaw,

First Draft member

Kevin has offered a unique and professional outlook on my writing, beginning from when I had no idea what I was doing up until when I had a better idea of what I was doing. Because of his experience, he was able to help me consider things I hadn't thought of before, which I believe greatly improved my writing. Kevin is always so fun to work with too, so it makes the process even more enjoyable and always gets me going on a good roll of high motivation long after a session together. I will continue to seek Kevin's support, feedback, and advice in all my future writing projects.

Kathryn Roy,

Coaching Client

…so that six months from now, you’ll be holding a completed first draft in your hands . . . and you’ll be able to look back to today, to this very moment, and say: THAT was when I took the leap and chose to believe in myself and what I’m capable of achieving as an artist.

This complete package of writer’s craft supports will forever transform your approach to writing and your confidence in your creative abilities.

You’ll be able to write more books with less stress.

You’ll be able to make forward progress without distraction.

You’ll be able to turn to a community of artists and Canada’s top writing coach for support, guidance, and advice when things get difficult during the drafting process.

Provide you with accountability to support forward progress with your writing… would it be worth it?

Give you a better understanding of the writer’s craft fundamentals absolutely necessary for commercial success… would it be worth it?

Introduce you to a creative colleague who becomes a lifelong creative champion for you… would it be worth it?

Provide you with a plan, milestones, and tracking techniques to support the completion of your first draft in a fun and focused manner… would it be worth it?

Prove you aren’t just a mom or a dad, a grandpa or a grandma, a student or an employee, but an ARTIST with something to contribute to the world… would it be worth it?

Help you produce a book that goes on to change even one person’s life… would it be worth it?

I’m excited to help you complete a first draft in six months (or less) that reads like a third draft and was actually fun to write.

As a reminder, here is what you get when you join FIRST DRAFT:

Option #1: Do nothing. Stay stuck in your current writing process, frustrated with what you can produce, and forever letting other priorities get in the way of your writing journey.

Option #2: Make a small investment today (compared to all the value you’ll get in return) and just give FIRST DRAFT a shot.

It’s just $1,400 for a 6-month membership or $350 monthly.

Now is the time for you to invest in yourself as a writer.

Join now, and I’ll see you inside our community.

Your pal in writing,

Kevin T. Johns, Writing Coach

P.S. Here are some frequently asked questions about the program and community.

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