In love.
Out of love.
So it goes.
We fall madly in love with our first draft. Star-eyed and amorous, we adore what we’ve just written. The way our words came in a blur. How did we get so brilliant? We used to be just ordinary, but now, with this draft — oh dear, a Pulitzer, we’re thinking. Every word, every sentence feels sacred and fills us with wonder.
And then we floss, brush our teeth, get in bed, go to sleep.
And then it’s the next morning.
We sail over to our desk to read our amazing pages from yesterday. Ah. But wait! What happened? Somebody must have gotten hold of them and messed everything up.
It’s all so — well, ordinary.
Parts are swollen. Parts are flat.
All it takes is a little distance to shake some sense in us. Push us from eureka to yikes.
I was recently talking with a college student, the daughter of a friend of mine, who wants to be a writer. I described to her this phenomenon — how I need to exalt what I’ve just written in order to sustain myself through all the subsequent drafts it will take to produce a halfway decent piece of writing. She replied, in all innocence, “Oh, I’m not one of those people who revise. I don’t need to.”
I am one of those people who needs to revise. So, I usually begin with micro-revision. A nip, a tuck. The period — does it go here or there? Move the first paragraph so that it’s now the second paragraph.
Then I move into larger revision. A brand new beginning. Inevitably, when you change one thing, something else needs to be changed. You take the narrative in a whole new direction. Both the first paragraph and the second paragraph get cut.
James Salter, renowned writer and restless reviser, said: “To be a writer is to be sentenced to correcting.”
It’s such a shock — and disappointment — when my fabulous first draft turns horrible. But once my attachment to it loosens, I find myself level-headedly and doggedly on my way to draft #2. Then #3. Then #4. So it goes.
Great post, Judy.
Thank you! (Don’t know whether I’m talking to Jim or the character in Jim’s book!)
Love your blog Judy 😘
You’re very sweet, Paula! Thank you!
I love revising. Always so glad to get through the first draft — then I feel I’m in a safe harbor and can play.
Me, too, Peggy. At least, you have black on white, ink on paper (as James Dickey called it). Thanks for your comment.
This nails it!
Thank you, dear Abigail!
Haha I feel so guilty about this. This is such a wonderful write.
Thanks a lot for posting this. We are really grateful for this. Been following this.
I’m so happy with your thoughts. Thanks
You have a great draft! Keep it up
Thanks for taking the time in sharing this awesome post here.
Interesting post! Thanks for taking the time in sharing this article here.
Awesome article, glad to check this site.
Thank you for sharing to us, there are many person searching about that now they will find enough resources by your post.
Hey, Judy! I can’t see anything weird about your first draft. I may not be a writer but from a reader’s perspective, this draft catches my attention to read until the end. Keep it up.
Thanks for sharing this great article here.
Great site to visit, I like the content you shared here.
Thanks for sharing such a great information. Keep sharing.
Thanks for the information. Looking for more.
Thanks for this great information. Looking for more.
Thanks for sharing such a nice information. Keep sharing.
Great post! Thanks for this awesome article you shared.
Awesome article!
Looking forward to seeing more great content here.
Awesome post! Glad to check this site with great article.
Every beginning writer I know abhors the idea of a crappy first draft. It’s embarrassing, mortifying and humiliating.
This is awesome! Glad to check this great information here.
Thanks for keeping us here posted.
Why do first drafts make writers uncomfortable?
Thanks for sharing this interesting article. https://www.plainviewfamilydentistry.com/
Great site to visit, nice content indeed. https://www.fdglubbock.com/
How do you revise a terrible first draft?
This is me, sometimes. Nice content.
Hi buddy, your blog’ s design is simple and clean and I like it.
Great site! Glad to visit this one.
Excellent read, Thanks for this amazing article!