Many of us have a hard time starting to write because we assume that our first draft will need to resemble the sellar work we read from other authors. However, what we fail to realize is that what we see in most shared works of writing isn’t the author’s first attempt. We are not privy to the work that is put into the words we read so that they are the flawless version we see. This is true for academic papers, emails from our coworkers, blog posts, or even thank you notes. What we read is very rarely the first attempt at what the composer of those works wanted to say.
The first attempt for any writer is often very rough and is often riddled with many errors as well as very badly worded ideas. One technique writers can utilize is to just sit down and dump what is in their brains, then pick through that first attempt to see what works or leads us in a more useable direction. Author Anne Lamott, says that the only way she can get started with her writing is to purge her thoughts and create a “shitty first draft”. All that we put down won’t always work, but starting with a “shitty first draft” is a starting point and from that, we can edit to get some good and useable work. Sometimes that first attempt will surprise us and can give some very workable material that we can mold into the masterpiece we are striving for.
Revision of our work should not be seen as a punishment. It simply is just one of the many steps in the writing process. Perfect writing isn’t a one-step process. Our writing will only improve if we take the time to go back and pick our work apart to see areas where we can make it better or more clear for our readers. To do that we will not start with the most perfect version of what we want to convey. Doug Downs, author of “Revision is Central to Developing Writing” states that revision is central to developing as a writer. Start with your “shitty first draft” then step away before visiting your work again. Take a fresh look at it then edit as needed to make a more polished draft. Ask others to give you input and then edit again. Through this revision process, you will not only create better versions of your first iteration, but you will in turn become a better writer. This approach can be done in all forms of writing that we do. Stop before sending that email to your boss and reread what you wrote to see if you are clear, concise, and to the point. Jot down your thoughts on scrap paper before writing that birthday card to a close friend. All writing is an opportunity to develop into a better writer.
