All a First Draft Has to Do is Exist by Kendra

 

All a First Draft Has to Do is Exist

written by Kendra

The first line of George Orwell's 1984 reads, "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking 13." 

When I read this my sophomore year of high school, I was starstruck. Don't get me wrong, I ultimately thought 1984 was kind of boring. But that opening line encompassed the specificity, the intrigue, and the simplicity that I wanted to embody in the first sentence of my own novel so that the reader would be drawn in and voraciously read until I penned "The End."

I used to think: if my first sentence, first paragraph, or first page aren't good enough, then who will read my writing? Who will care to stick around until those final sentences instead of shutting the cover and walking away?

It's true that the first section of your writing can be one of the most important parts— whether you're a creative writer setting the scene or you're laying out important foundational information for your own research in your thesis. But this idea mixed with a perfectionist mindset can be a dangerous combination. I can't tell you how many times I've found myself rewriting that first paragraph over and over to try and get it right. Even as I move past that coveted first line, I find myself overthinking each sentence, trying to make sure it sets up the rest of the piece. It can be paralyzing!

Reading Anne Lamott's essay "Shitty First Drafts" changed my perspective on this enormously. Lamott explains her writing process, which entails writing an entire first draft before she goes back and revises anything. It requires the writer to turn their editing brain off during the drafting process, but it results in a finished project. 

And that brings me to the one tidbit that has helped me most on my personal writing journey. All a first draft has to do is exist. 

This means that your first draft doesn't need to be perfect. It will definitely not be the draft you submit to your editor or your committee. All the first draft needs to be is words on the paper and your ideas in writing so that you have something to work with. It takes the pressure off of the drafting process and allows more room for creation. 

Do this by not going back and reading what you've already written when you sit down to write. Keep a notebook nearby where you can jot down the ideas you left off on or any thoughts that pop up for revision. When you get stuck on an idea, jump to a new one; you can worry about the connective tissue later. All you need to get started is the meat. 

Good luck with your drafting, I hope to see you all on the Progress Logs!

Comment below on your thoughts about just getting things on the page!


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