#Throwback Thursday Crappy First Drafts, and a Class on Pitching
Are you ready to sit down and write something crappy? Read on and I’ll explain what I’m talking about, and why Polly dedicated an entire podcast episode to the topic.
Elisabeth Rourke here, Polly’s editorial assistant and professional word wrangler, ready to talk about writing crappy first drafts.
I didn’t have to dive very far into Polly’s archive to listen to episode 297 of the Simply Write w/ Polly Campbell podcast where she goes deep into Crappy First Drafts and Why They Are So Important. It aired on Oct. 14, and I listened to it soon after because it’s a topic I asked her to cover.
Polly shares her tips on how to overcome the dreaded blank page. I’m currently writing a first draft as we speak—my second novel. And while I’m no stranger to starting something from scratch, it’s nice to have the reminder that first drafts aren’t meant to be perfect.
Here are some takeaways.
Write Garbage.
Seriously.
Set the intention to allow yourself to sit down and write badly and quickly without stopping for typos or fragments, plot holes, or unclear thought tangents. Just get it out in what some people call the “vomit draft” where your primary goal is to get the words on the page.
It’s okay to leave notes on the page for your future self and reminders of things you want to come back to because you don’t want to slow your progress by getting hung up on every sentence, question, or outline snag. Going down rabbit holes while you’re trying to work out the kinks to a fresh essay, novel, or short story hinders the process in more than a few ways.
Research shows that writers who embrace rough drafts experience greater creativity and less anxiety and stress because they begin to focus on the flow of ideas rather than the perfection of ideas. This leads to more authenticity, more innovative style and structure, and pieces of work that are more compelling. Based on a study in the Journal of Educational Psychology, writers with this mindset said they even enjoyed the process more.
“How do I know what I think until I see what I say?”
— Anonymous
We have to write the trash.
As you’re headed into your rough first draft, approach it this way— We are creating something that doesn’t exist. We are inventing something. Give yourself permission to experiment. Did Edison create the kinetograph on the very first try? I bet he didn’t.
There will be flops. There will be mistakes. But each mistake, each sloppy sentence, each deviation from the original outline, plot, or idea will lead to the final polished draft.
Rough drafts are a process of discovery—voice, thoughts, questions—that is going to allow you to start with one concept and realize its potential, its transformation.
Do yourself a favor and stop focusing on creating a gripping hook, the killer opening to a new chapter, and the “best” first ten pages. That is what editing is for—that’s second pass, third pass, fourth pass work. You will get there. You will fix it. You are in charge.
For Polly’s rules and tips on staying focused through a crappy first draft, this podcast episode is a must-listen. She recommends Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott. But also, check out Polly’s Substack post titled How Ideas Become Books, which talks about the process of creating an idea before the writing even starts.
(Don’t Stop) Happy Drafting,
-E
Virtual Class Pitch to Publish — Friday, November 22
Are you ready to take your writing career to the next level?
Mark your calendars for Friday, Nov. 22, 10 AM Pacific
Writing a good manuscript or proposal is just the first step—if you want to see your work in print, you need to know how to pitch it like a pro.
In this exclusive session, magazine writer and the author of four books, Polly Campbell will guide you through the pitch process, revealing insider strategies to help you:
Craft a pitch that sells: Learn the essential elements of a pitch and how to condense your story into a compelling one-liner that captures interest immediately.
Find the right fit: Discover how to identify the editors, agents, and magazine markets that are the perfect match for your work.
Master the art of the query: Understand what makes a pitch stand out and how to write yours.
Sign up now to reserve your spot and receive a free recording of the event.
$79 for general admission.
Click Here to Register and Pay
OR Become a paid, annual subscriber of this newsletter, Simply Write and receive a link to access the class for just $39.
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