Permission to Write Crappy (Crappily?)

So, I've begun my second book in the Sovereign series.  The first book was relatively easy to write.  I had ideas for the plot, I worked most of it out in advance.  I'm a very detailed pre-writer.  I use an outline method called "Snowflaking" and I have great results from it. 

However, in that first draft, while it flowed easily, I also took my time to make sure I was getting the story and actual writing just how I wanted it.  I would go back over pages before writing new ones, and if you've read up about other authors and their processes, you know that this isn't how "they" recommend doing it.  And now, struggling with my imperfect first draft of Sovereign 2 (unnamed), I understand why.

Truth is, I discover more about where I'm taking my story (even though I know what my main plot points should be) while I'm writing.  In other words, I discover more in the process of writing than in the process of "brainstorming."  New ideas spring up mid-flow and that means what I'm writing isn't perfect, and to a degree, I'm just going with it. 

As a person, I suppose I can be a little uptight.  I'm a control freak (to a degree--depends on the situation).  So winging it certainly isn't my style.  My style is to do a good job.  That's my goal.  I want to "write good."  haha.  So in my desire to write a good first draft, I limit myself.  I cut off the flow of creativity.  I know that now.

So, from this point forward, I'm officially giving myself permission to write a crappy first draft.  And I'm gonna make typos, mistakes, and stupid erroThere.  I said it.  And I also give myself permission not to let anyone see my first draft, lol.

Hopefully, this new approach will relieve me of the stress and frustration I've been feeling over book 2 for the last however many weeks.  I'll keep you all posted!


(P.s. you're probably wondering why there's a picture of a cat there.  The answer is simply: that's my cat Meiko and he's a handsome fella.)