First Drafts

So . . had writing group meeting this morning, and got feedback on my (very very rough) draft of the first twenty pages of the book. And, of course, I have been snapped right back into OH MY GOD THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO stage. Suddenly I am torn between wanting to edit -- since there were all these great ideas given to me -- and wanting to keep writing writing writing, and get more of the first draft done (I'd say I've written a quarter total). And I can't decide which to do, and of course feel vaguely stymied.

I was, however, reminded again that first drafts are OKAY. I don't know why we need to constantly be reminded of this. But KZ offered a great metaphor for writing -- the first draft is just about nailing in the posts. Like telephone poles. They point the way, they set up the framework, you've got a skeleton. Then, with suggestions from your readers, with your own editing, the second draft is about putting in all the stuff in between. Laying the wires, filling in the details, smoothing the edges, refining the product. I love this metaphor. It's not saying anything I didn't know -- or don't keep reciting in my head "It's ok Karen, this is just your first draft, you'll make it perfect later" -- but it somehow says the same thing in a different way, and I think one constantly needs to be reminded that you HAVE to go through the first draft stage before getting to the final stage. We keep hoping that as we get better we can skip some of this initial b.s. But truly I think the mark of a great writer is simply that they are good editors, and they can take that first draft and polish it up to brilliant beauty.

I just have to be told over and over again, in different ways, that it's ok to write a first draft -- and just because it's not perfect yet is no reason to give up. But it's hard to remember that I tell you. It's hard.