THREE: Tell The Inner Critic To Take A Hike

Our inner critic can be distracting!

Every single writer, be it Stephen King, Nora Roberts, Terry Brooks, Ray Bradbury, Ernest Hemingway, Sylvia Plath, Toni Morrison, J R R Tolkien, started the same way no matter the form.

Each began with the first draft.

And every first draft, no matter how good a writer is, tends to be crappy.

Full of grammatical errors, plot holes, underdeveloped characters/ideas, and so forth.

Here are a few quotes from authors who understood the value of first drafts:

“The first draft of anything is s**t.”  — Ernest Hemingway

“I’m writing a first draft and reminding myself that I’m simply shoveling sand into a box, so that later, I can build castles.”  — Shannon Hale

“The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.”  ―Terry Pratchett

“It doesn’t matter if it’s good right now, it just needs to exist.” — Austin Kleon

“Good stories are not written. They are rewritten.” — Phyllis Whitney

 As you begin the first draft, tell your inner critic to go away (it can be used when you begin the revision process) and allow the words to flow without any thought for grammar or how terrible it might be.

Allow yourself to play and explore! There are no rules for any first draft!

Those can be applied later.

Your Assignment:

Below are two prompts – word and image.

Pick one (or both if you like). With your chosen prompt as inspiration, write for five minutes whatever comes to mind. Don’t stop to think or to correct anything.

Let the words flow. Let me know how this went for you.

Word Prompt: LOST

Image Prompt:

Comments

Carrie Ann Golden

Posted 2 Years Ago We writers tend to be perfectionist! :)

Greg Herb

Posted 2 Years Ago Very nice reminder. I think we as writers occasionally get discouraged because we want our vision to be exactly how it feels in our minds, but get discouraged when it doesn't line up right away. Little by little, we see the sculpture emerge from the rough rock we have started with. Essential advice. Thanks!