Hi all,
A few days ago I began working on my first 'first draft'. I have attempted to begin it several times before (I've had the story idea in my head for about three years now) but I never got more than a few hundred words into it. After reading posts from this forum, I realised that I was probably trying too hard to make every word of my first attempt 'perfect', and when I wasn't able to, I became discouraged and gave up (self-doubt, insecurity and lack of confidence are huge problems in most aspects of my life).
I have started my first draft again, this time just writing the words as they come to me, not worrying about perfection or what someone else might think about it. I've done about four pages now and I have enjoyed writing those four pages infinately more than my other attempts, but I'm beginning to wonder and worry if maybe I'm not trying hard enough. There is a big part of me that can't accept and won't be satisfied with 'good enough for now', even though I've been telling myself that I can fix it during the re-writing stage. This story has grown to mean so much to me that I'm afraid of not doing it justice.
I guess what I'm wondering is: can you salvage a manuscript from a terrible first draft? Is it ever ok to allow yourself to write really, really badly? Or should you constantly be pushing yourself to write as well as you possibly can?
I would love to hear how each of you approach your first drafts and whatever ideas you might have on the subject. Thanks!
tamashii
A few days ago I began working on my first 'first draft'. I have attempted to begin it several times before (I've had the story idea in my head for about three years now) but I never got more than a few hundred words into it. After reading posts from this forum, I realised that I was probably trying too hard to make every word of my first attempt 'perfect', and when I wasn't able to, I became discouraged and gave up (self-doubt, insecurity and lack of confidence are huge problems in most aspects of my life).
I have started my first draft again, this time just writing the words as they come to me, not worrying about perfection or what someone else might think about it. I've done about four pages now and I have enjoyed writing those four pages infinately more than my other attempts, but I'm beginning to wonder and worry if maybe I'm not trying hard enough. There is a big part of me that can't accept and won't be satisfied with 'good enough for now', even though I've been telling myself that I can fix it during the re-writing stage. This story has grown to mean so much to me that I'm afraid of not doing it justice.
I guess what I'm wondering is: can you salvage a manuscript from a terrible first draft? Is it ever ok to allow yourself to write really, really badly? Or should you constantly be pushing yourself to write as well as you possibly can?
I would love to hear how each of you approach your first drafts and whatever ideas you might have on the subject. Thanks!
tamashii
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