#the process of writing
I keep saying I’m going to do this and I finally managed to save an early first draft of a WIP. I know a lot of people get anxiety about how yucky their first draft of a story is. My philosophy is even if it is ugly just get it out. Just get the ideas out, just get the basic outline out, just get it out. You can build and expand on it later, and somehow having a bare bones guide helps provide sparks for when you get back to it. But just get it out!
Anyway, to illustrate how bare bones and ugly a first draft can be I have some first draft paragraphs from my latest chapter of Neverending and the final draft to compare them with.
First draft
“Amelia, what are you doing leaving books like this in places students can find?” Lina asked.
“What book?” Amelia asked.
“Don’t play dumb!” Lina said as she held the book in front of her, “What if one of the kids had found it?”
“Not mine.” Amelia said, “That’s too hardcore for my taste.”
That stopped Lina in her tracks, “You serious?”
Final version
Amelia started talking about how excited she was to see him as Lina’s eyes fell on a book that has been left by the couch. And then she blushed as she saw the title, “Amelia! What are you doing leaving books like this in places students can find?” Lina shouted as she pointed at All the Hues of Black.
“What book?” Amelia asked.
“Don’t play dumb!” Lina said as she picked it up and then held it as far away from her as possible, “Do you know what sort of a reputation it has!? What if one of the kids had found it?”
“Not mine.” Amelia said as she shook her head, “That’s too hardcore for my taste.”
That stopped Lina in her tracks, “You’re serious?”
First version
Lina watched as Zelgadis laughed at something Gourry said and turned to Amelia, “Looks like the trip has been good for him.”
“That was everything we needed it to be.” Lina said with Amelia as Maninstit came into view.
“Yes, Zel is doing a lot better.”
“We’re okay, aren’t we?”
Final version
Lina watched as Zelgadis laughed in response to something that Gourry said, and then she turned to Amelia and commented, “Looks like this little weekend trip has helped Zel to loosen up.”
“Yes,” Amelia agreed, “He’s a lot more at ease now. I’m so glad you suggested this!”
“It was good to get away for the weekend.” Lina said as Maninstit came into view. While she had been annoyed that the others had invited themselves, fortunately when they actually got into town no one complained about everyone enjoying their separate pursuits. And while Lina had walked with Gourry most of the way home as they got within the bounds of Maninstit she’d found herself drawn to Amelia. “This new group of students is really getting under my skin and I needed the change of scenery. Though thinking of that pile of work waiting for me…”
She shuddered and sighed, “It was still worth it though.”
“And I think Duchess Orianna will be so busy cleaning up the mess she’s in with Ruvinagald that it will be awhile before she causes anymore trouble for us. So you should be at full capacity at least.”
“Don’t jinx this!” Lina shouted, and then she lowered her voice, “I won’t undervalue having a vindictive diplomat cowed though. I’ll say that you seem to have bounced back from this quickly.”
“I guess, being a royal I’m just sort of used to it. These things are hell to get through but it’s always good to put them and any hard feelings behind you as fast as possible.”
“So…we’re good then?” Lina asked.
So don’t worry if your first draft is ugly! Don’t worry if it’s bare bones! Just get it out and keep working it and eventually it will fill out and coalesce into something to display!
