My first draft was very similar compared to the ideas in “Shitty First Drafts”, as much as I hate to say it. I am a person that won’t take up new hobbies because I can’t stand not being good at something, which makes writing the first few sentences and ideas very hard. I don’t want to create something if it isn’t going to be a quality piece. This article really opened my eyes to how I should be writing compared to how I write now. No one has to see this first draft, it is truly for my eyes and improvement only. My high school english teachers advice to me when I graduated was “Give yourself time to write” which I think applies very well to this topic. If I give myself the time to write a piece of shit and edit it, then I can produce something that is worthwhile of someone else’s time. I definitely struggled with writing this paper, similar to how Lamott struggled every month with her food reviews. I sat, I tried, I then panicked and contemplated dropping out of college. Finally I let myself type a few sentences, which then gives way to more, which then ends in a first draft. I feel that I can apply the techniques of just spilling everything out on paper in my next first draft, and I think that will help my writing tremendously. I really liked this essay, and I feel that it resonated with me. Her sense of humor brought out the bullet points she was bringing up and highlighted what she wanted to be seen. This was very helpful and hopefully I will be using a shitty first draft technique in the future to improve my writing.
I totally agree with this. I typically write a good first draft to the point that I feel comfortable handing it in and maybe getting a good grade. When I read Lamott’s essay, it ensured me that in order to make a better essay, I need to just write and it doesn’t matter if it’s coherent or not. The only thing that matters is having a strong final draft that makes sense and it’s only possible by having a shitty first draft!
Mouse,
I’m so happy to read this. Please don’t panic. Reach out! Communicate. Your English teacher gave you some wise words. I’ve recently taken up the new hobby of painting and drawing. I can understand the impatience that can arise when trying to learn something new, but if you are able to give yourself the time and space to make mistakes (and learn from them), you will–without a single doubt–improve. Just show up to the desk. Sometimes that’s the best you can do!
Hang in there, and please reach out.