Fast Draft vs. Edit as You Write
I've heard a lot of writers talk about how they fast draft, meaning they write and write without thinking much about the words they are putting on the page (or screen). Now this doesn't mean write anything and not care at all how it comes out. It means you get your thoughts and ideas down, letting them flow naturally. My honest reaction to this was, "No way. Not for me." I've always been the edit as I go type. I revise each word and try to make sure I am putting the best possible word choice on the page as I write. Well, last week that all changed.
I'm working on a new YA manuscript, and the ideas are pouring out of me. I wrote my usual summary of the book so I know where I am going with the story. But right from the start, my character's voices were in my head talking a mile a minute. I had to change the way I wrote. So, I opened up a blank screen and let the words flow. I listened to my characters and just tried to keep up. The result? I wrote about 50K in just over one week. It was crazy. It was like I was doing NaNo, only I wasn't trying to write this fast. I just couldn't help it. Getting the words down like this, kept my ideas flowing.
I'm not a night person, but now I'm wired at night, not wanting to shut my laptop off and go to sleep. I just want to write. Okay, so maybe that's a downside to this method, but really, I'm not complaining. Drinking more coffee, yes. But not complaining. Another great thing about fast drafting is I don't have to stop and think about something that happened six chapter back and wonder how I'd written a particular scene. It's all fresh in my mind, because six chapters ago wasn't weeks or even months ago. It was a matter of a couple days.
So, I'm loving this method of writing and am so happy I tried it. I'm even allowing myself to write scenes out of order. Whatever comes to me, I write. And you know, it ends up piecing itself together in the end.
What about you? Do you fast draft or edit as you write? Would you ever consider trying the other way?
