Anne Lamott said it best: “All good writers write [shitty first drafts]. This is how they end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts.”
This semester I realized I have what it takes to be a good writer, and it took everything I had. One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned and appreciated about writing is that it is an art; however, the actual artist is revision. “Revision is Central to Developing Writing,” written by Doug Downs, highlights the concept that revision is not only a part of the writing process, but it is essential to find your path to more incredible ideas. Downs explains that in writing, “writers usually find something to say that they didin’t have to say.” The picture of revision of a piece shows your skill and craft of becoming a great writer. When drafting multiple times, the writer generates new ideas and creative thinking in a way they could not see before. Quite like perfecting a recipe adding the right ingredients to deliver an even better meal. The author explains how students generally view revision as a negative, only revising when they receive a bad grade. Downs acknowledges that writers can experience negative repercussions if they fail to build in time for revision in their writing process.
Downs “Revision is Central to Developing Writing” and Anne Lamott’s “Shitty First Drafts” share a similar theme: writing your first drafts is simply a starting point and tip of the iceberg. The secret to getting ahead is getting started. A writer never wants to look back and hope they could have done better. In the same way, they both compare the stages of the writing process as a way to create your best work, striving for progress, not perfection. However, the delivery of both messages is quite the opposite. As a new writer, I can connect more to Anne’s thinking and writing. Anne expresses her opinions and ideas in a nonprofessional, more relatable way rather than the difficult to understand way Doug writes about basically the same thing, “shitty first drafts.” Anne is crystal clear with her delivery, so there is no confusing wording for writers to understand. Comparing the two stories, I learned writing is an activity that needs to be evolved, and revision should be constant and endless. Revising as many drafts and rewriting as much as you can is the heart of writing. Resilience is your superpower in writing, and revision is your weapon.
