The first draft of everything is shit. ~Ernest Hemmingway 

First-time writers struggle the most with first drafts. That’s because they often compare their first draft to what they’ve read in their favorite books. What they don’t realize is 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 is hard for beginners to comprehend how many revised copies their favorite writers went through before giving a draft to an agent, only to be asked to revise it again. That’s because we get to see all of the mistakes and boring bits that went into their first draft – all of that has been cut away. It’s just like when you take hundreds of photos while on vacation, choose the best ones, and delete the rest. Revision after revision is simply the process all successful writers learn to accept and understand. As Nora Robert’s said when asked about writers’ block, and I’m paraphrasing, “Just write something. At least then you’ll have something to improve upon.

Let your creative muse rip. Then read it through, and like a sculptor, cut away the excess. 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.

Remember, WSFAV – Write, Sculpt, Feedback, Adjustment, and  “Voile,” you’ve got it! If you can figure out a better acronym, please share and I’ll include it in next week’s newsletter.
 
Enjoy!