Drafts matter.
Drafts are essential to the writing process, and to understanding our writing identities. No? Leave a comment to join this dialogue, and don’t forget to check out today’s writing prompt.
As writers, it’s easy to be persuaded into believing that only our polished and published writing matters in the end, especially when we meet set and arbitrary deadlines or struggle with perfectionism.
But that’s not entirely true, and I think we all know that somewhere deep down — that all the outlines and notes and first drafts and second drafts and third drafts … matter too. Sometimes even more than the beautified, made-up words we end up seeing on our pristine, copyedited and perfectly formatted pages and infinite scrolling screens.
Drafts are uglier in a lot of ways, to be sure. They’re full of typos and run-on sentences, weak or wonky syntax and diction and misplaced commas and too many em dashes and… you get the point. They’re a work in progress, and it’s easy to tell.
Though, truly, when does one ‘know’ that a draft of theirs is ‘done’?
Is anything we write ever truly ‘done’?
Yes, of course, second and third drafts … and twelfth drafts tend to be more refined, for the reading public at large to enjoy. But should we ever truly perceive them as ‘done’ or ‘final’?
Is there ever a thought or narrative that can be considered ‘final’ or ‘complete’? I mean, maybe if we decide to stop writing and reading? …
Though isn’t there always more to add and revise and edit? Even if and when others are the ones doing the adding, revising, and editing?
Meaning: Don’t most narratives keep going, in one way or another, dare I say, forever? Even if it’s hundreds of years before they’re uncovered and revisited by another?
Drafts hold the meat, the heart, of a story, and tend to reveal the raw truth of what you want to say and how you want to say it long before you really ‘know’ what you’re saying. Whether you hit ‘publish’ or not is often irrelevant.
A plethora of adverbs and passive verbs and redundant euphemisms and clichés reveal a lot. Like what’s missing, who’s missing, from a draft, also reveals a lot, as do all those notes and markings in its margins.
If you came across one of your favorite author’s drafts, you would marvel at where and how they started their masterpieces. You would relish the journey they take you on, and the creative struggle and insight they provide.
So, why wouldn’t you treat your own drafts the same way?
As roadmaps that illustrate your writing journey and ever-evolving writing identity.
As blueprints to your burgeoning masterpieces.
As works worth contouring and fine-tuning and keeping around for reference.
As unredacted diary entries made by you and what’s linked to your writing soul.
Sure, a draft may be ugly on the surface, but the diamond in its rough will inevitably be revealed, as long as you keep writing.
“Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good.” — William Faulkner
Every first draft is perfect because all the first draft has to do is exist. It’s perfect in its existence. The only way it could be imperfect would be to NOT exist. — Jane Smiley
“Most times, I’ll just sit there, suffer, write shitty sentences, and hope I can make the next draft less putrid.” — Daniel Pink
“I’m writing a first draft and reminding myself that I’m simply shoveling sand into a box, so that later, I can build castles.” — Shannon Hale
“The first draft reveals the art; revision reveals the artist.” — Michael Lee
“Good stories are not written. They are rewritten.” — Phyllis Whitney
“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.” — Kurt Vonnegut
What are your thoughts on this topic? Leave a comment to join this dialogue, and don’t forget to share this post with others so they can join this dialogue too.
© This work is not available for artificial intelligence (AI) training. All Rights Reserved by K.E. Creighton; Creighton’s Compositions LLC.
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Today’s Writing Prompt
Writing Prompt: Daylight Saving Time
Write a creative piece about how Daylight Saving Time makes you feel, or write a journal entry about what you think about it.
Writing Tip
Consider how you felt the morning you woke up after the recent time change.
