All first drafts are shit! 
~ Hemmingway

A Key to Enjoy Writing

Lower your expectation of the first draft.  Do this one thing and you are guaranteed to feel more joy.  If you know that from the get-go, you can relax and enjoy the process.

Do you compare the first draft to what you’ve read in your favorite books? Most beginning writers do! That’s because they don’t realize that those books were rewritten and revised more times than can be imagined. Remember, aside from your editor, no one need ever see your first draft.

It can be hard for us to comprehend how many revised copies our favorite writers go through before giving a draft to an editor, only to be asked to revise it, again. That’s because we don’t see all the mistakes and boring bits that went into their first draft – all of that has been cut away. It’s like taking hundreds of photos while on vacation, choosing the best ones, and deleting the rest. Revision after revision is simply the process all successful writers learn to accept and understand. Since getting started can be the hardest part, just write something. At least then you’ll have something to improve upon.

So, let your creative muse rip. Then read it through, and like a sculptor, cut away the excess and perfect what remains. Refine your piece of art till it pleases you. Then let your editor or trusted friends and family give you feedback and make your final additions and corrections.

Like any creative endeavor, patience and perseverance are your best friends. You can make your journey to the end more enjoyable with the “right attitude” and acceptance of the process. Write, Review, Sculpt, Feedback, Adjustment, Rewrite, and “Voile,” you’ve arrived! 
 
Enjoy!
 
Feel free to email me with any questions or comments.