Tuesday, May 12, 2009

It's only the First Draft



You know, it’s not so much the first words of a new project that are daunting, but it’s the fear of writing them. Of course if you just start plugging away, pretty soon you’re on the second chapter. Here’s the deal, It’s a first draft.

When I started my first book, still a WIP, it didn’t matter to me if I ever got published. Well, I mean, what am I saying? “WOW,” it would have been huge. But at the time, the only way to keep from getting discouraged was to tell myself, “I just want to write a book. When I got down in the dumps about it, I told myself, “I just want to write a book.” When a critique took the wind out of my sails, I told myself, “I just want to write a book.”

When I finally finished it, the first time, I was thrilled. When I wrote the words, “The End,” It was an amazing feeling. Then started the rewrite, then another rewrite, then when I thought I was on the last rewrite, here comes another one. Finally, I had to put it down and start the book I’m writing now.

My point is, it’s a draft, it will change a number of times, so what the heck. There’s no reason to just stare at a blank page. Get to writing, already. This is more to myself than to anyone else.


3 comments:

  1. You were talking to me too! I have reworked my first novel over and over again and now am working on novel #2. I agree...getting the words on the page is essential to moving forward in the writing process.
    ~ Wendy

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  2. I enjoy doing my own editing, but when you have to check every word and every space the very last time, that's when I hate my book.

    I got over it.

    Morgan Mandel
    http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

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  3. This is so true! At the end, it all boils down to one thing: I just want to write a book ;-)

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