Wow…writing is one of my Things, enough of a Thing that I mention it in my About Me section and everything, and how many blog posts have I written about writing? One. One measly little blog post. So today I’ll remedy that. From now on, I’ll have written two measly blog posts about it.
Today’s topic is first drafts. First drafts are…troublesome. There’s no getting around it. I can’t speak for others, but I struggle with accepting the fact that my first drafts will inevitably be messy. I know that it’s unavoidable, yet I somehow feel that it shouldn’t apply to my own personal writing. Have any of you experienced this? You accept in the abstract that a first draft will not be perfect, but then you keep going back to endlessly tinker with your own first draft and feel reluctant to share it with anyone until it’s just the way it should be?
I have even found this to lead to writer’s block. To take a concrete example, I was working on a story – the working title of which is Pauline Story, because I am very bad with titles – and was chugging along on it, not too badly, with the plot sort of partially mapped out in my head. Then I realized that I didn’t like how the plot was turning out. It felt stiff and awkward and cringey. (I have a horror of my writing being cringey – whether this actually leads to my writing not being cringey, I am not prepared to say.) So I said: let us throw this plot out altogether. And I did.
I was very attached to my lead characters, however, and I still wanted to do something with them. So I took these characters and plopped them into a similar, but tweaked, version of the plot. Chugged along at that. Sent the first chapter to a friend, who very nicely said she’d like to see more of it. Decided I didn’t like that plot either. I’m now on Plot Three of this story, and I still don’t know if I like it.
You’re probably raising an eyebrow at this point and saying that you daresay all this rambling is comforting to me, but you don’t see how it concerns you, so I’ll stick a Moral onto it (since that always automatically makes things edifying). The moral is that
1: First drafts will not be perfect. Do not expect them to be perfect. If you work too hard at making them perfect, you will probably get stuck and/or get writer’s block. (This has been scientifically tested by yours truly.)
2: On the other hand, if you are working at a story idea that you realize you really don’t like, don’t feel compelled to force your way through it. Don’t automatically trash the whole thing, though: try tweaking things, adding/subtracting a character, narrating through a different character’s eyes, etc. (This has also been scientifically tested, and the results are unclear.)
(That being said and my moral being expounded, though, I must admit that I’m really not 100% sure what to do with Pauline Story. Readers, can you help me? What do you do when you very much want to use certain characters, but can’t seem to find a good plot for them?)
So now that I have probably not helped anybody at all by saying things that you probably all already knew, here comes the moment of truth…snippet-sharing time. Ready?
~
“I don’t think that’s a good idea at all,” said Margaret. “You mean that you want to kidnap me.”
“Not at all. Borrow you would be a better term.“
“I don’t want to be borrowed.”
“Why not? It would be interesting, wouldn’t it? You don’t seem to live a very exhilarating life here.”
This was true. Margaret thought a bit before she spoke again.
– Margaret Harkins Story (remember what we said about my relationship with naming stories?)
~
Truth be told, Henrietta’s company dampened the pleasure of her walk. Henrietta could be an emotionally taxing companion. But if she were with Pauline she could not be creating a disturbance at home, and Pauline comforted herself with this thought as they set out.
“I don’t think I like Mr. Aines,” said Henrietta, kicking a pebble which was in her way.
“Why not?”
“He has a funny way of looking at me. He looks as though he’s sorry to see me and surprised that anyone would ever let me out of the house.”
Pauline had to suppress a smile at the truth of this statement.
– Pauline Story, Take 2
~
He frowned thoughtfully. There are two courses which a man of sensitivity may take when he comes upon a sobbing woman. He can approach and attempt to console her, or he can pretend not to notice and tiptoe quietly away. He had tried both approaches before, with mixed results each time. If one employed the first approach, one ran the risk of being pettishly told to mind one’s own business and being called an insensitive busybody. On the other hand, if one employed the second approach, one ran the risk of being told – in a raised voice, so that passersby usually stopped and snickered – that one was an unsympathetic brute with no better feelings at all.
– Pauline Story, Take 3
~
“Your family must be awfully neglectful, sending you off to visit Mr. Vallens without even extra petticoats,” Eliza remarked. Margaret did not think this remark was in very good taste, especially considering that they were on a public street, but she was not sure that it would be polite to tell her so.
“I have nothing to complain of in my bringing-up,” she said haughtily. “There were – unforeseen circumstances.”
Eliza giggled. “I’d wager a day’s wages that you don’t even know what ‘unforeseen circumstances’ are.”
“I don’t want your wages, and I do know what they are. It’s when things happen differently than what you think.”
“You are a funny child, Miss Harkins,” said Eliza, not, Margaret noticed, offering to in fact give her any money.
– Margaret Harkins Story
~
He was beginning to surprisedly frown and gape simultaneously when she turned on him, suddenly indignant. “Why do you care? What concern is it of yours? Who do you think you are?”
He quickly rearranged his face into something more dignified and tried to think of an appropriate answer. He cleared his throat again. “Me?”
“Is there anyone else I could be addressing?”
“Oh! No, no, I suppose not.” He hoped that she would say something else, but as she did not, he was compelled to continue. Her questions were rather difficult ones to answer. He decided to just focus on the easiest one.
– Pauline Story, Take 3
Have you found perfectionism in first drafts to lead to writer’s block? And did you find any of my snippets interesting? Which story are you most interested in, from the snippets I gave?
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I enjoyed this. 🙂 I think I really enjoy hearing people ramble about their writing, even when there is not a clear Moral (though that, of course, makes everything ten times better). Writer’s block in first drafts is a real problem for me because I both get it if I try too hard to make everything perfect AND if I am too accepting of bad writing and bad ideas because “first drafts are supposed to be messy!! you can fix it later!!” which either leads me to write myself into holes or leads to awful writer’s block in the /second/ drafting phase…which is not good either. So it’s this difficult-to-maintain balance of working hard, thinking VERY hard, going back, and tweaking where I need to as I also accept that it won’t be perfect and I will inevitably have to rewrite things later and I do have to make actual Forward Progress. I’m currently working on a second draft that’s working out very well, though, so I think I managed to accomplish all that with the first draft this time? Hurrah, lol.
I enjoyed every single one of your snippets (POOR Henrietta, lol), and I think my favorite is the one from Pauline Take 3 where he can’t decide what to do about the crying female. XD
Good luck with Pauline, though! I’ve also been in the boat where I love characters but can’t get quite the right plot to suit them. I never really know what to do in those situations, tbh!
Oh, I’m glad to hear that! I was afraid the post was turning out too rambly and pointless, so I am glad that it was enjoyable regardless (:
Yes, yes, and yes to everything you said. I think I find that when I fall into the second problem, I eventually have to just stop the story and re-haul it, because if my ideas are too bad I just lose interest and can’t force myself to keep going (kind of what happened with the first version of Pauline). Congratulations; that’s wonderful! I have so many countless drafts of things…and yet, nothing finished that’s longer than a short story. (If someone has a nice injection of discipline handy, I’d appreciate it :P)
Ah, I’m so glad that you enjoyed them! (And I admit – I know an author shouldn’t have favorites, but – that is probably my favorite as well :P)
Thank you…I’m sure it’ll get ironed out at some point (hopefully, anyway!). Good luck on your second draft!
I’m with you on not loving how messy first drafts are! Somehow, though, I’ve managed to make it through a couple of times…
I’ve had having-characters-and-no-plot issues a couple of times, and while I am by no means any sort of expert on this, what I usually do is just set it aside for an amount of time ranging from a couple of months to a year and a half or more and somehow just by living life, I often come up with a feasible plot idea. It’s worked for me on a few different occasions, so I thought I’d put it out there. 🙂
Well, congratulations on soldiering through the mess that is first drafts! That makes sense…I think I do sometimes over-think the plot, and then it comes out forced and doesn’t work out well at all. Trying to let go a bit and let it come more naturally would probably help with that. Thanks for the advice!
Lizzie, thank you so much for this post! It was quite helpful, and I enjoyed your little Snippets.
As for myself, first drafts are a Huge Issue. That’s (one of) the reasons why I haven’t posted at all this week, is because I’m trying to make it no longer an Issue.
You know, if you’re okay with it, it would be a lot of fun to do a Story Swap! I’ve been craving some good constructive criticism lately, and all your stories look like a lot of fun. I think my email’s on my website? If not, let me know.
Swaps (and swamps) Such Things aside, what kinds of stories do you write? From these delightful excerpts (my favourite of which was that one with the poor guy who had Issues with female tears) (speaking of, have you ever seen Marvel’s Agent Carter? It’s got a hilarious scene like that) it seems like you write mostly Jane Austen-y stuff.
Also, thank you for the Morals! That was much appreciated 🙂
Till later!
Thank you so much!
Good job on tackling the beast head-on! (I had noticed that it’s been longer than usual since your last post…not that you should feel obligated to post if you’re busy, of course, especially if you’re doing something Important like fighting with first drafts ;P)
That sounds like a lovely idea! I didn’t see your email on your blog, but I can see the email you’ve put down when leaving comments here (though it’s private to everyone but me, of course!)…is that a good one to use?
What kind of stories do I write…is a very good question. Maybe you could say it’s sort of like L.M. Montgomery but a bit cozier, with a dash of influence from P.G. Wodehouse. And yes, I think it is a bit Jane Austen-y, as I tend to focus more on characters than action (sometimes to my detriment, as I’ve found that one does need at least a bit of action to move a story along :P) (Believe it or not, I have not seen a single thing from the Marvel/DC universe, so I haven’t seen Agent Carter…that does sound like a fun scene, though ;))
Toodle-pip!
Let me try to reply to this in order…
Okay. Yes, I’m in the middle of a lot of Busyness right now, such as preparing for auditions, those dratted first drafts, and TWO posts-in-progress. Thanks for the vote of confidence!
Yes, the email attached here is a good one. (I think it’s also on my profile but I will have to verify that at some point…)
That sounds like a lovely style. I love both kinds—characters and action—as well as Jane Austen (and anything cozy!) so I’m sure your stories will be delightful.
I do believe it—and Agent Carter’s really the only thing in the Marvel universe I actually like (because the rest is just Too Cringey). Basically the main plot takes place just after the war with Agent Peggy Carter of the SSR trying to cope with a Certain Beloved Character’s death, and also her male co-workers’ piggishness. (Also, it’s got Britishness. Which is delightful.)
Anyhow, enough rambling from me. Vale!
Well, good luck with all your Busyness! (Ooh, what are you auditioning for?)
Lovely! (I didn’t see it anywhere, but it’s possible it’s hidden in plain sight (otherwise known as, I could have missed it).) Aw, thank you! <3 I am looking forward to seeing more of your stories too!
Agent Carter certainly looks like it would be the most interesting part of the Marvel universe for me too...like you, the other ones just don't appeal to me. 😛 Probably in many ways AC wouldn't either, buttt it has gorgeous '40s clothes and vibes...and yes, Britshness. Britishness is always a plus.
Vale, et gratias tibi ago for the comment! (Too lazy to figure out how to say the whole sentence in Latin, heh.)
Whatever her difficulties with plot be, let it be known that Lizzie’s prose is impeccable, and that covers a multitude of sins.
Um… Maybe not, but I adored the snippets. The first Pauline one is my favoritest. (Probably not a word . . . What is wrong with me today?) I can quite sympathize with Pauline.
What *do* first drafts have against us writers? What did *we* ever do to them? Must be natural wiciousness.
I don’t even know what draft Daunting Proportions is in. It’s kind of a first draft, but also not? I don’t know. It underwent huge plot revisions, like your stories, but I think I finally have a good grip on the plot.
Ah, yes, I can certainly relate to characters-with-no-plot. My most favorite character is currently in such a state, and I’ve had to simply set him aside. It’s actually quite nice to know that when the story is ready to be written–or I am ready to write the story–he will be waiting. (And he regularly invades my head anyways. Sometimes I’ll dabble in his story, just for fun, and it makes for relaxed-ish writing.)
Aaaanywaays, all that to say, I really enjoyed this post, and I’m excited to see where God takes your pen! But patience is certainly a necessary virtue for us poor writers. Genius takes time, you know 😉
Aww. *blushes* You ladies are too nice. <3 I am glad you liked the Pauline one! (Well, favoritest SHOULD be a word, doggone it.) I want to make Pauline sweet and sympathetic without being your typical "boss girl" heroine you see everywhere nowadays...hopefully I'll be able to do that without just making her boring. Time will tell.
Yes, you're right. Must be natural wiciousness. Why are the young never grateful?
Sometimes it is difficult to categorize which draft you’re in exactly – especially if you’re in the habit of going back and tweaking as you go, which I definitely am. That’s great about DP, though! I think that really knowing where you’re going with the plot can be immensely helpful sometimes – I’m much more the sort who tries to find out the plot as I go along, which can have its drawbacks 😛
That does sound pleasant…having a relaxing story that you can putter about with when you feel so inclined. I often will make up scenes in my head with my favorite characters while I’m doing chores, trying to go to sleep, etc…. but those scenes don’t always seem to flow naturally into the story when I’m actually writing it. It’s a little strange…a writer’s brain is a confusing little place.
Thank you so much! And yes, we writers must just learn to wait and let our genius simmer a bit (; (Does genius burn, Jo?)
Yes, I like sympathetic and sweet! Pauline just seems like the kind of girl I’d feel comfortable around and enjoy getting to know (which, hopefully, someday I will ;)).
*haughty sniff* Especially to those which brought them up by hand!
Oh, I definitely have the tweaking habit! It’s so frustrating. I’ve been trying to train myself not to, but I’m usually not successful 😛
It is fun . . . sometimes too much fun. I often make up scenes like that, too–but how do they all fit together? Where is the plot?? “A writer’s brain is a confusing little place.” Indubitaly!
Aw, I’m glad to hear that! Hopefully at some point I’ll finally be able to pin her story down and you will have the chance to know her better 😛
Indeed! *shakes head mournfully*
Heh, I haven’t been too successful in stopping my tweaking habit either. I don’t think it’s always a problem…but, as outlined in my post, it certainly can be. I also often find editing easier than writing, so I can fall into the trap of just re-editing what I have over and over because going on seems too hard…sigh.
I know, right? You’re left with a bunch of cool scenes and absolutely no idea how to string them together 😛
Ooh, a worthy topic indeed 😉 And the views of many scribblers appear…. This grows fascinatinger and fascinatinger! Also educational…. Morals and viewpoints being taken into account (;
I belong to the same camp as Samantha, my best approach with a stubborn scribble is inevitably to let it alone until it doth please to be written😜 Granted, this feels a bit more like Story Ripening to me than it does like Writers Block, because the latter is a Dread Malady, and the former merely an exercise in patience….
This also works with characters who refuse to decently fit into the plots and courses you have so painstakingly set out for them to walk in, in my experience. The most successful course of actions seems to be to let them sit and develop until they decide to tell you their story, because sometimes…. With this type of Beloved Character, chances are they are quite alive…. Oh, quite, quite alive! And cannot be MADE to do things, they simply are what they are, do what they do, and will introduce themselves, and their stories to you when they are ready, as Ruth said, to be written.
No amount of impatience seems to reliably hurry this along, sad to say😆 This has also been tested….
Ahhh, but Lizzie, Lizzie…. What are we to do without the rest of these stories now?? I need CONCLUSIONS, spoilers, greater extents of knowledge…. In short, I cannot choose one favourite, and have been forced to go with all three. Although this Man Weighing His Options Dubiously one is thoroughly intriguing me now…. These snippets make me want to read them aloud with great feeling and this intrinsically tickling turn to the words…. Which you have so neatly planted within the veil that is perfect decorum. This is the mark of an exceptionally well written scribble, btw (;
Which reminds me that this is sometimes also a cure for partial writers block, reading aloud. Going at it from a new angle can help…. And hearing your own words can be a huge help in editing.
Hmmm🤔 I don’t know that I can say first drafts PRODUCE writers block in me, editing is, quite honestly, half the fun of writing to me…. But writing when things do not want to be written is a frustrating business, and ought not to be attempted on stories you truly care about😆 ‘t least it seems so to me.
Anyways. If ever you turn the Two into Three, you can be sure of an eager reader in Emily Of Idlewood, this I must say (; If there is anything that rivals with scribbles for top billing in Greatest Fun, it is Discussing Scribbles.
But for now, since it grows nigh upon the hour of Very Late indeed….
Toodle Pip and Cheerio!
That is a sensible view, I think. I quite agree about stories ripening! Indeed, I’ve sometimes felt with my more precious ideas that I would want to wait for years to publish them, even if I did finish them…just because I thought they deserved a more mature and well-polished version of themselves than I was capable of giving at the time. But waiting is HARD. *bounces up and down impatiently*
Aw, I am so pleased you liked all the snippets! You are too kind, my dear Marianne. (Oh, reading aloud is a good idea too! It also has the effect of forcing you to slow down, which tends to be a help. I just don’t like reading my own things out loud, though…I feel it always makes it sound worse. Heh.)
Editing CAN be fun for me…it all depends on which writerly mood I am in. And how much I enjoy the particular part I’m editing. And how many times I’ve already edited that particular section. 😛
Thank you so much for the encouragement! I shall have to keep you apprised of Progress, then (; (But good heavens, the hour was indeed Very Late! What are you doing to yourself, Emi??)
Pip-pip!