Saturday, 24 January 2015

First Drafts


This past week, I wrote the first drafts of three new chapters, each about 2,000 words long.  I thought I was done with first drafts for my novel as long as a year or more ago.  Then I discovered these chapters were necessary; I didn't know how to get along without having them.  And why should I, if they were instrumental in telling my protagonist's story?

The first new draft took two days to write; the other two took only a day each (depending on how long my writing sessions were).  And, when I was done, I was happy with them, as first drafts go. I'd certainly included everything I intended to.

And, as it turned out, so much more.

See, that's the thing with first drafts.  Well, before I go there, I want to say how much fun it was, after all this time of not writing a first draft, just to let go and see where the writing took me.  I've been editing for so long, I forgot how exhilarating setting off on a new journey could be, plowing the mounds of fresh snow that fell overnight, seeing all those words accumulate on the screen. 

But what I really learned–or was reminded of–was how first drafts should be written.  Sure, have in mind what you hope to accomplish; have at least a sense of what should happen.  But you don't need to know everything before you sit down to write, which I thought before, and which, for me, really hindered the creative aspect of writing first drafts.  In fact, you may need to know less than you imagine.  Just the kernel of an idea is enough, before you sit down to find out what it's all about. 

And, mostly importantly, get out of your own way.  Set yourself free to write that first draft.  Don't have any expectations.  Like a road trip you've never taken before, have your map ready (that is, as I said above, know what direction you're going in, what you need to accomplish), but don't be scared to turn right or left, to go up or down, as the case may be, while you're on your way.   You'll still, somehow, end up where you need to go.

First drafts are all about exploring.  They're all about being open to whatever comes to you and not judging it, but getting it down when it's given to you, while it's there for you to access.  Go with it.  Feel the wind in your hair, the sun on your face, as you rush to get the words down, as you wait to find out what's coming up around the next corner.

What a pleasant surprise my three new first drafts were.  After I was done, I knew the different minor character introduced in each so much better.  I understood them more as human beings, what motivated them, why they did what they did.  And I had a better understanding of how what they did affected my protagonist (thereby confirming I needed them in my novel, after all).

That's what first drafts can do for you, if you set yourself free to write them.

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