Guidance on Embracing Flaws in Your Incomplete Work
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Writing a first draft is a significant milestone in the writing process, one that many authors, including Meg Dowell, a prolific writer and managing editor at College Lifestyles magazine, can attest to. Dowell has also contributed to Lifehack, Food & Nutrition Magazine, Teen Ink, USA TODAY College, and is an eight-time NaNoWriMo winner.
The first draft is often considered the hardest part of writing, being a challenging, confusing, and miserable experience. However, it is also an essential step, as it gets the story out of the writer's head, making it available for improvement.
Upon completing a first draft, writers commonly experience a complex mix of emotions. These feelings can range from relief, pride, emptiness, or dissatisfaction, as the end of an intense creative process signifies the culmination of emotional investment, prolonged effort, and uncertainty about the work's quality or future. Emotional fallout from the story itself, especially around climactic moments, can also provoke strong feelings.
To manage feelings of dissatisfaction or emptiness after finishing a draft, writers can adopt several strategies:
- Acknowledge the emotional complexity: Recognize that such feelings are normal and part of the creative journey.
- Take a pause before revising: Emotionally detach and gain perspective on the draft.
- Seek feedback: Consult trusted readers or writers for constructive direction and motivation to improve.
- Avoid perfectionism traps: Allow yourself to skip difficult passages temporarily and return later with fresh eyes.
- Use techniques to reframe mindset: Embrace flexible thinking to overcome stuck moments or anxiety tied to the writing process.
- Celebrate the milestone: Recognize the achievement beyond the imperfections.
By adopting these approaches, writers can turn emotional ambivalence into productive momentum toward revision and growth in writing skills.
It is essential to remember that the act of writing, even if the writer initially hates what they've written, is an essential step in the writing process, as it can be improved upon. After finishing a first draft, it is crucial to take some time to celebrate and be happy with the accomplishment before starting revisions.
Writers who have completed first drafts are part of a group that includes many others in the writing community. Completing an original draft of a story is a significant accomplishment, worthy of celebration and pride. The best part of writing comes after the original draft, as it allows the story to develop and grow. Finishing a first draft might not result in immediate feelings of joy or satisfaction, but the sense of accomplishment after finishing can make the hard work worthwhile.
[1] The Writing Cooperative. (2017, May 23). The Emotional Roller Coaster of Writing a First Draft. Retrieved from https://thewritingcooperative.com/the-emotional-roller-coaster-of-writing-a-first-draft/ [2] The Write Practice. (2016, March 14). 6 Tips for Revising Your Novel. Retrieved from https://thewritepractice.com/6-tips-for-revising-your-novel/ [3] The Write Life. (2015, October 8). How to Celebrate the Act of Finishing a First Draft. Retrieved from https://thewritelife.com/celebrate-act-finishing-first-draft/ [4] Meg Dowell. (n.d.). Twitter. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/meg_dowell
expelling the initial draft marked a significant stride in a writer's education-and-self-development journey, embodying personal-growth through perseverance and creative endeavor.
Completing a first draft signifies the completion of an educational milestone, paving the way for further self-improvement and personal growth through the writing process.
