![]() I’ve heard countless writers say that the reason they started writing is just because they wanted more out of an already existing story - but this time, they wanted it their way. Only we know what stories we want to read the most. It’s typically not as helpful to follow trends (with some exceptions), and a lot of us writers don’t get as excited when one of our friends says, “I have a story idea for you!” That’s because we write to enjoy writing our own stories. It’s not so much the destination as it is the journey that excites me. This may sound selfish at first, but the reason I first start writing a draft is because I came across an idea that I wanted to explore for myself, and only for myself. That should take most of the stress away right off the bat. You don’t have to wait quite that long, but it’s always helpful to remember that since you are in charge of your story, you don’t have to show it to anyone just yet. When it comes to novels, that sometimes means that no one can even look at it for about a year until it’s finished. And I never let anyone read a draft as I’m writing it. When I write my first draft, it can be as secret as I want it to be. The good news is, I don’t need to worry about any of that. ![]() What would my friends think if I tell them I’m a writer and then show them…this? What would my professors say about this chaotic, disorganized mess? What would my mother say? So, as we near the midway point of Preptober and head into NaNoWriMo November, here are some things to keep in mind as you’re writing your rough draft. One of the best things about writing, in my opinion, is delving into the unknown and then making sense of the chaos later. Think too much about where you’re going, and you’ll take forever to get there, if you get there at all. It’s a time for exploration and play, not (over)analyzing. That’s why it’s important to just have fun when writing the first draft. Overthinking which literary techniques to use, why, and where to place them can easily lead to a stalled project. Going for perfection on the first go-around puts a lot of pressure on you. ![]() But that mindset makes writing first drafts extremely difficult. Yet, we still feel the need to try.Įver since starting college, I’ve been putting more thought into what I write and how I write it - and don’t get me wrong, it’s just as important to think critically about your own work as it is to think critically about others. We’re not going to get the story right on the first try. Rationally and logically, that’s obvious. I think that deep down, we’re all aware that first drafts are just the first try, the rough draft, and it’s supposed to be more fun than cohesive. Unless you’re a super genius, getting it right on the first try is nigh impossible. Here’s something that not a lot of people internalize: first drafts are supposed to be terrible. Here’s something that most of us can agree on: first drafts are terrible.
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