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Shitty First Drafts response

Mary Katherine Rankey


This reading was about an author, Anne Lamott, who explained her writing process and the importance of having a "shitty first draft". She explained that first drafts are in some way the most genuine. They're a draft in which we can basically write whatever we want. Why? Because no no one will ever see the first draft. I loved the way she described having a first draft and in some ways it takes a lot of pressure off to know that even famous authors don't have naturally perfect first drafts. She explained that sometimes she doesn't even want to write and that she doesn't feel inspired, but she still sits down and forces herself to write. Lamott said that when she writes she just lets whatever float out of her. I loved this reading and it gives me ease to know that no one can just sit down and make a beautiful, amazing, perfect first draft. First drafts are meant to get basic ideas out, whereas second and third drafts are meant to fix and perfect. Prior to this reading I would put so much pressure on myself to make even the first draft perfect, but this reading gave me a new insight to what a first draft really should be... flawed!

Comments

  1. I always put insane amounts of pressure on myself when it came to writing. I enjoy writing when I am giving a simple prompt and know exactly what I want to say; however, starting a piece with zero idea of what to write about is extremely torturous to me. I love your interpretation about your new insight of the first draft being flawed! Perfect explanation of what a first draft should and will be!

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