Here’s the thing about first drafts: They are fun, but they are also scary. They are messy and muddled and awkward and hard. They have no guarantee. And they can make perfectionists like me very, very uncomfortable.
But they are worth it for the times when everything works and, anyway, they have to be done in order to get to revisions. Even on the difficult days.
And those days do come.
Unfortunately, there’s no category for Personal Cheering Section in the help-wanted ads, and the cats would rather sleep on the couch than rah-rah-rah me into getting all the new words written. So when I’ve used up my last jar of inspiration, and my motivation has fled, I have to flail those pom-poms myself.
Throughout my recent two-month long frenzy of creative chaos — otherwise known as a first draft — I did just that. To be specific, I built a page of reminders to look at any time my typing lagged. As the manuscript grew, so did my list, because I learn new things every time I write a book or, more likely, I learn the same things over and over, forgetting in between.
Here, prettied up for your sake, and shared in case it provides inspiration (perhaps to those embarking on NaNoWriMo), is my memo to myself:
Tell a good story.
Write now. Revise later.
Have fun. Smile. And then send a knife hurtling toward your protagonist.
Go on. She can take it.
Forget layering in emotion, setting, symbols, and theme for now. This is an empty tortilla, baby. Only one floppy layer to be had. Fill it later.
At some point — usually three days — it will be harder to stop than it is to keep going.
Until then, write it anyway.
You have finished books before. You will do it again.
Probably even this one.
Comparing an untamed first draft to a previous book’s reworked, polished, final form is like comparing a supermodel’s eighth grade school picture with her Vogue spread. Not fair. Everyone looks awkward at the beginning. The pretty comes later.
The book will not be perfect.
The book will not be perfect.
The book will not be perfect.
But it can be fixed. That’s what revisions are for.
Just type.
Don’t look down.
How do you convince yourself to keep going on difficult writing days?
Oh those are such great tips. I find lately censoring myself. In my personal writing. Which I hate. I love writing that is honest that is raw and true. That’s the time in which I hate revisions. When I hate re-writing to please an audience and not my heart.
Oh, yes. I definitely understand – especially when the revisions are done based on others’ opinions. Though I figure if it works for you, it’ll probably work for someone, so maybe writing for yourself is the way to go?
Such good advice. I’ve finished books before, I can do it again. And Yes, I need to throw things at my protagonist. Such a good post! Nice meeting you.
Thanks, Erin! And I’m so glad you stopped by. I love your blog and am glad you started it up again.
Wonderful post. I find first drafts to be painful. I much prefer revising. So, your tips are most helpful. I may start to chant “Write now. Revise later.” : )
I’m with you on that! First drafts can be so fun and freeing, but I really like revisions. That’s when the book really starts to take shape. And, yes, it helps to change, “Write now. Revise later.” I tell myself all the time.
I take a break, watch something on the DVR or spend time with the family to ground myself in my actual reality. I remind myself that no matter what’s going on on the page, I have people and a life beyond that mess. Then I can go back to it with renewed vigor.
Love it! What a great way to look at it. I think it’s so easy to let writing time bleed into family time, and then it all begins to feel like work and our brains never get to rest.
I’ve come to love writing first drafts, now that I know I can tell all I want and worry about fixing it later one. 😀
LOL! So true. That’s part of the fun of revision anyway – taking all that telling and turning it into showing, so your story really comes alive. (Okay, for me, at least…)
YES! This is fantastic advice, and I something I really learned for myself during NaNo last year. I didn’t have TIME to stop and think that my first draft was less than perfect. It was kind of amazing and definitely a wake up call for me. It’s the best first draft I’ve ever written, and it was because I was able to let go of making it “perfect” and get it out. Definitely looking forward to November again this year! 🙂
I have so much admiration for anyone who can do NaNoWriMo! I really need to try it some year. And I’m so with you on coming up with the best ideas when you’re writing like mad and not stopping to think. It’s like once you get started, the creativity just rushes in and takes over. It’s heady.
I’m printing this reminder out and taping it right next to my computer monitor. It’s so hard to remember to just smile and write, and not look down. It’s a balancing act! Thanks for the reminder!
I think reminders help, whether they’re this list or one you make. I know I look at mine all the time when I’m drafting. Now to figure out a list for revisions!
Great words to live by. I DO love a first draft… 🙂
Thanks! And those first drafts can be so fun, can’t they? So much creative chaos, so many ideas, never knowing exactly what will happen on the page when you sit down to write. Wheee!
Oh my gosh… this post is for ME… serious!
I’m *such* a perfectionist when it comes to writing… and I have a hard time working on a draft that isn’t pretty and perfect. This was such a great post. Very inspiring. Thanks so much! 😀
Ha! Sounds like we’re a lot alike with our writing. I used to try to perfect every scene, but now I’m really, really trying to move beyond that. It’s not easy, though. Good luck!
“Empty tortilla” BAHAHAHA!!! I love that! And it’s so true. I’m a perfectionist too, which is probably why it takes me forever to write a first draft. I don’t know how to just write and worry about the rest later – I try to make it as clean as possible on the first go-round.
But if you need someone to flail pom poms, come find me on Twitter and I’ll happily cheer until you’re unmotivated no more!
I used to be a perfectionist, Gina. I would spend forever polishing up one scene and making it perfect – only to discover that later scenes made it irrelevant, despite my pre-book plotting. I have so much respect for people who *can* do that and make it work, though. The drafts take a lot longer, but revisions probably aren’t as bad.
Oh, and you know I’m up for a Twitter conversation any time!