The First Draft is Always Shit
The purpose of the first draft is to get stuff out of your head and into words.
Hopefully, after planning in so much detail, you will avoid extensive re-writes because you will have a (sometimes vague) idea of where the story is going and who is telling it.
BUT: Don't expect great things from your first draft.
My First Draft Process
Every day I write something new.First draft stuff is written early in the day, when I'm still feeling creative.I have a word target. I do not get up from my chair until I reach this target. It might be 500 words, it might be 2000, but whatever it is, I keep going until I'm there.I begin by reviewing what I wrote the day before. But I try not to edit it too much, otherwise I get stuck in Edit Mode. There's a big difference between Edit and Create.Once I reach my word target, if I'm in the zone, I keep going. (If I'm not, I go for a walk. I find walking clears away the cobwebs, helps me think knotty issues through.)Every day, I tell myself 'well done'.Repeat this process until finished.
And I DO NOT get worked up over what is happening until the story is finished.
Worrying about plot holes is a sure fire way to procrastinate.
Something like Nanowrimo can help - the way you get a little graph at the end of the day is quite cool. Plus, its nice to feel you're not alone.
Of course, this is all wonderful stuff. I break my rules all the time.
Hopefully, after planning in so much detail, you will avoid extensive re-writes because you will have a (sometimes vague) idea of where the story is going and who is telling it.
BUT: Don't expect great things from your first draft.
My First Draft Process
Every day I write something new.First draft stuff is written early in the day, when I'm still feeling creative.I have a word target. I do not get up from my chair until I reach this target. It might be 500 words, it might be 2000, but whatever it is, I keep going until I'm there.I begin by reviewing what I wrote the day before. But I try not to edit it too much, otherwise I get stuck in Edit Mode. There's a big difference between Edit and Create.Once I reach my word target, if I'm in the zone, I keep going. (If I'm not, I go for a walk. I find walking clears away the cobwebs, helps me think knotty issues through.)Every day, I tell myself 'well done'.Repeat this process until finished.
And I DO NOT get worked up over what is happening until the story is finished.
Worrying about plot holes is a sure fire way to procrastinate.
Something like Nanowrimo can help - the way you get a little graph at the end of the day is quite cool. Plus, its nice to feel you're not alone.
Of course, this is all wonderful stuff. I break my rules all the time.
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