I did not really dwell on the start of my writing process much until this week. I’m not too fond of drafts because I usually like to write straight from the thoughts that flow to and through my brain, but then there’s that “oh wait, you need to prep before producing” a great body of work, Tiffani. How can I do this successfully without feeling guilt, pressure or major procrastination. After reading, Lamott, Dila, and Ramirez’s articles, I found that writing is a true process from the start, in between, and the finish. Lamott pretty much tells us to spew what you feel onto paper. Pour it all out. Allow your thoughts to run wild and free. Heck, no one will see it anyway, right. Even if no one sees it; it’ll still be considered a ‘shitty draft’ per Lamott and Hemmingway.
Lamott believes that this writing process allows creativity to flow and prevents restrictions in your writing. Going through the motions of pouring, revising, and ‘perfecting’ is a great way to produce a great body of work. Hmmm, ok…kind of get it, but I think it not only depends on the topic, but why does it have to be considered “shitty”. The first draft for me is like the foundation/makeup. It has to be smooth, but not perfect. There are going to be other layers to assist in building a great makeup look (concealer, mascara, etc.) That’s not a crappy process.
Meanwhile, Dila expresses that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with laboriously and continuous revisions. The first drafts are not necessarily crappy, but it depends on the writer. Dila sums it all up by simply saying ‘do what works for you’. While tackling your writing, Ramirez informs us that Writer’s Block is inevitable, but there are ways to rev up that writer’s engine to get started and to keep going.
I love the examples Ramirez gives us. They’re so realistic and human. Taking breaks, listening to music, or simply slamming that laptop is perfectly ok to do, in order to produce the product. I usually suffer from “procrastination” or writer’s block because there are so many thoughts swimming and backflipping through my head, but writing freely, revising as much as needed, and taking those brain breaks when necessary can avoid shitty first drafts and prevent my brain from hitting that “writer’s block” 🙂
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