As writers, we all know that a first draft never goes smoothly. In fact, we generally need to accept that we’ll spend ninety percent of that time wailing about how terrible it is or, when words fail us, simply banging our head against the keyboard in frustration. First drafts are hard, ugly, horrible things and that can be difficult to accept.
This is why some give up on the draft altogether. I know I’ve done that when things got too hard, or my characters put themselves in a stupid, plotless spot and just stood around looking accusingly at me, as though it was somehow my fault.
I’ve been thinking about this whole first draft thing and I’ve come to a conclusion: we are all being far too hard on ourselves. Writing a first draft is like blazing a new trail through the wilderness, forging a new path through lands no-one has ever travelled before. And that’s hard.
All of this is the topic of my latest video on Katie Writes Stuff, which you can watch right now, thanks to the handy little box below.
So next time you’re hating every word you write or wondering why on earth your characters aren’t doing what you want them to, just remember to go a little easy on yourself. Keep on going and leave all of those problems for future you to deal with.
