In Anne Lamott’s “Shitty First Draft and George Dila’s “Rethinking The Shitty First Draft” I believe that both authors made some valid points about the writing process and made me re-evaluate my own process wondering if there is something that I need to change. According to Lamott’s theory she believes the “shitty first draft” is where all good writers begins. She believes in using the first draft to get all your thoughts out like word vomit.
If it comes to your mind write it down, just write; the shittier the first draft the better each draft will be after you write your second and third draft. To come up with good second drafts, and fantastic third drafts writers need to use the first draft as a blank slate where they can come up with ideas letting it all pour out. According to Lamott the first draft is “the child’s draft” where you pour it out or have word vomit. Writing various drafts while improving each time is how Anne Lamott believes that writers are the most successful. However, there is always someone who is out there who will dispute your theory and open the door for questions about your concept.
In Goerge Dila’s “Rethinking the Shitty First Draft” the author blatantly disagrees with “shitty first draft” theory. Stating that “I cannot even allow myself to write a shitty first sentence, let alone immediately follow the first with another few hundred shitty sentences.” (Dila 1). He disputes Anne Lamott’s theory using metaphors to show how her concepts doesn’t work well in all writing situations. Dila agrees that the first draft does address the obvious problems in writing like writer’s block, and “self-doubt” which everyone faces when challenged with new writing material. He believes that this is Lamott’s “antidote to the unrealistic desire for perfection writers wish for their work”. (Dila, 1) However, Dila’s concept is to do exactly what Lamott warns us not to do, which is revising as you write and re-writing. Dila uses Lamott’s “pour-it-out” theory to in the example of building a house, you can’t just start the foundation and keep building the house without ensuring that it was stable. “The builder has all his materials on site. He begins pouring cement for the foundation, it is uneven, and the cement is somewhat watery, but he can’t stop to fix it”. Dila states, “the builder would end up with a pretty shitty house; so shitty it would probably be easier to tear it down and start over, maybe a little more carefully the next time”. This metaphor explains thoroughly the point he is trying to make about editing or fixing as you write.
After reading both articles and thinking about my own process in writing I realized that I use both authors’ concepts. I begin writing what would initially be my first draft, then I re-read the draft and get into some serious editing. I don’t rewrite a second and third draft. I continue to edit and rearrange my work until it’s the best version of itself. The downside of that is that I don’t get to display the writing process. Anne Lamott has some great points in her article, but I really agree with George Dila’s conclusion which talks about doing which process works will for you.
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