The Muse on first drafts

Writer: I forgot what a mess first drafts can be. I spend so much time revising and polishing that by the time I start a new project, I've forgotten how projects start out.

Muse: They are a glorious mess! Like finger painting!

Writer: You're enjoying this, aren't you?

Muse: Immensely.

Writer: But just look at these pieces--all over the place. I can see where they're going to fit together, but they're not coming out in order. Why couldn't you at least have them come sequentially?

Muse (with an airy wave): That isn't my job. I don't assemble these things, you know. I have to leave something for you to do!

Writer: Gee, thanks.

Muse: Think of it like a jigsaw puzzle! Where you also have to trim the individual pieces and sometimes paint them different colors and sometimes throw them out altogether and get new pieces!

Writer: Party on.