Shitty First Drafts Blog #2

First drafts are the drafts that trigger panic mode. Nothing but blurred thoughts, clammy palms, and a shaky number two pencil. It is a natural instinct for us humans to strive for perfection on our first go-around, but does that actually happen? The only things produced are errors, errors, oh and a lack of creativity and originality. Trying to write a paper or story and reach perfection with only one attempt is equivalent to diving into a swimming pool hoping that your head is going to pop back up without a single swimming lesson in your life, absolute insanity.

Anne Lamott does a phenomenal job by not only explaining the importance of shitty first drafts, but also showing how they are a norm for writing. Even the best of the best have to partake in it, in order to reach primed quality. The story she has written helps to put an ease to that dreaded panic attack and a little confidence booster. Knowing that even the professionals have to write shitty first drafts to get ideas flowing and a great end product, helps to put us amateurs at a bit more ease.

Let's not kid ourselves now, freaking out for first drafts is a must. We are scared of being judged, frowned upon, or sounding like a complete idiot. It is relieving that everyone has to go through it. No matter how much we embarrass ourselves with awful writing, someone else is doing the same exact thing, perhaps even worse. Another point Lamott brought forward was that writing is not rapturous. In order for emotions, plots, and climaxes to be powerful a story line must be completely fulfilled. That takes more than just a shitty first.

A simple agreement to Lamott's Shitty First Draft, could have been be sufficient but of course I had to get my glory with a PUBLISHED shitty first draft.