tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post80021360986242748..comments2024-03-29T03:30:18.368-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Shitty First DraftsDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-852988250118370182012-01-03T11:52:59.270-07:002012-01-03T11:52:59.270-07:00I appreciate this reminder early i the year. As K...I appreciate this reminder early i the year. As KatieO said, I'm off to pull my copy of Bird by Bird into my line of vision to remind myself of the need to read portions of it again!<br /><br />Happy New Year!Sherrey Meyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04715466245851050537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-57764156348307742462012-01-01T14:51:46.499-07:002012-01-01T14:51:46.499-07:00I don't stop in the middle of a scene. I'v...I don't stop in the middle of a scene. I've done that a couple of times and the next time I picked up the manuscript I'd forgotten where I was going. I do like the idea of letting the child in you write the first draft. I let my inner child do that until she had written so much that I had to take control. But the shitty stuff I'd written got woven into the final manuscript - or some of it anywayHelen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-33041949303258394842012-01-01T10:26:35.503-07:002012-01-01T10:26:35.503-07:00My first drafts are messy and fast and overwhelmin...My first drafts are messy and fast and overwhelming, but I love that feeling of going back later and shaping it into something beautiful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-29021001911316488952011-12-31T19:15:16.072-07:002011-12-31T19:15:16.072-07:00Elle, I don't advocate stopping when the scene...Elle, I don't advocate stopping when the scene is really flying. I stop as it is winding down and leave a few notes of where I was going. That is what gets me going the next time.<br /><br />Dean, I liked what you said about scenes aging gracefully. <br /><br />Dani, thanks for the heads up. Think I'll buy some stock in Charmin. LOLMaryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-25853480866327590872011-12-31T17:07:54.736-07:002011-12-31T17:07:54.736-07:00The advice to stop in the middle of a scene sounds...The advice to stop in the middle of a scene sounds like a good idea, but I've tried it a few times and it doesn't work for me, unfortunately (although I know it does for other writers). I prefer to keep going with the momentum I've built up in the moment. I dislike the feeling of coming back to a scene the next day and it being sluggish when I know it was flying the previous day.<br /><br />Elle<br />HearWriteNow & Blood-Red PencilElle Carter Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-41366664685730101572011-12-31T16:50:17.931-07:002011-12-31T16:50:17.931-07:00I intend to edit and publish a few of those shitty...I intend to edit and publish a few of those shitty drafts in 2012! Bring on the literary TP. :DDanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-41792227634796191282011-12-31T16:46:37.167-07:002011-12-31T16:46:37.167-07:00I am falling in this camp, too. It's taken som...I am falling in this camp, too. It's taken some time to accept a shitty draft, but when it's done, there's something to work with. Ideas come and go, but once down on paper, they're more likely to age gracefully into a refined piece.Dean K Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01846624912452227191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-63125820754309437382011-12-31T14:44:51.137-07:002011-12-31T14:44:51.137-07:00Katie, I have Anne's book handy where I can ge...Katie, I have Anne's book handy where I can get it and read parts now and then. You are so right about the inspiration. We all need it as winter sets in in January.<br /><br />Melissa, I am soooo jealous. LOL I would love to meet her in person. I have read many of her books and they are all so good. My hubby gave me Bird by Bird when it was first published and I am so glad he bought it on a whim.<br /><br />Liza, good luck with the rewrite. Good idea to let it sit for a while. I think Anne even suggests that. (smile)<br /><br />LOL, Lorelei, I'm sure your book is not putrid. Congrats on finishing the first mystery novel. First ones can be special.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-53839662600910914552011-12-31T12:52:20.452-07:002011-12-31T12:52:20.452-07:00Here is to shitty first drafts! I've begun my ...Here is to shitty first drafts! I've begun my first mystery novel and it is putrid...<br /><br />But I love the characters and the story and I will continue with this first draft.<br /><br />I do like to end at the middle of a scene so that I can mull things over until I get to it again. It seems to help.<br /><br />Happy New Year and I'm so glad I've found this blog!Lorelei Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03294047277447613989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-9874409184126584032011-12-31T12:51:00.924-07:002011-12-31T12:51:00.924-07:00I love, love, love Bird by Bird. And this post me...I love, love, love Bird by Bird. And this post means even more because I finished a first draft this week. I'm anxious to go at it and fix all the things I'm sure need to be fixed, but I'm letting it sit for a while. Happy New Year!Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-30270474279058853912011-12-31T10:22:11.292-07:002011-12-31T10:22:11.292-07:00Anne Lamott is my favorite, and her advice to writ...Anne Lamott is my favorite, and her advice to write the shitty first draft changed my writing life! How utterly freeing. I so look forward to starting my next shitty first draft! I had the privilege/fun of seeing/hearing her speak here in Santa Fe last year - what a treat!<br /><br />Happy New year!Melissa Ann Goodwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13454907380469372468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-85672313764107071262011-12-31T07:34:35.650-07:002011-12-31T07:34:35.650-07:00Thanks for this reminder! I'm hoping to pick u...Thanks for this reminder! I'm hoping to pick up and work on edits and rewrites in the new year, and wondering if it's worth it - I think I'll pull Bird by Bird off my shelf for more inspiration before I get started!<br />Happy New Year!Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.com