You Have to Write the Bad Stuff Before You Can Write the Good Stuff

 

If you want to write something but you aren’t sure about the right words to use, just start writing anyway. Don’t worry if they aren’t the “right” words to use; you will figure that out later. For now, just start writing what you want to write.

 

Keep in mind that once you start writing your first draft, it is only your first draft. It is not the final piece that everybody will read. It is not the final piece that will be published.

 

It is only a first draft. And every first draft sucks.

 

Why do we writers push ourselves on to write our first drafts even if we know they are not going to be so great? Because we know one truism about writing: You have to write the bad stuff before you can write the good stuff. Once you get that bad stuff (bad writing) out of the way, you can now focus on the good stuff – namely, good writing.

 

If you still struggle with trying to figure out how to get started writing, here are a few tricks I use:

 

• I pretend I am sharing this with the person I am writing it for.
• I pretend I am giving a lecture or speech.
• I pretend I am on the news reporting about the topic.

 

These usually work for nonfiction, but if you’re trying to write fiction, start with your idea. If it’s a character, then write the scene they are in. If the story comes to you with a lot of action happening, write about what’s happening.

 

The important thing is that you get started writing. Get that first draft down. Yes, it may seem long and tedious. It may seem hard to do. And if you allow yourself to get carried away, it may seem like A LOT of work and writing you will need to do. (Tip: Don’t even go there!) But once you start writing your first draft, you’ll start to figure out where to go from there.

 

And once you have that first draft written, you will have something to work with. You can trim, edit, revise, change, delete, add and elaborate all you want to when you tackle that first draft to create your second draft. And you know what? Your second draft will be better. Why? Because while creating your second draft, you were able to catch all the bad stuff in your first draft. You got rid of it and got the good stuff in your next draft. And the draft after that one will be even better.

Good Writing Takes Time

 

There are a lot of writers out there who believe they must or that they should be able to write everything super-fast. It’s almost as if having this ability to write everything faster than the average writer makes them stand out. From writers challenging themselves to bang out a 50,000-word novel in one week by writing 10,000 words a day to writers promising to meet a deadline for their article by the next day, these writers feel that being able to get work done in record time makes them more desirable or competent.

 

However, if you want to write well, you should give yourself the time to write well. Don’t try to force the words or the story in order to finish writing a project really fast. Don’t try to rush it. (Trust me, your readers will know if your writing seems forced.)

 

As frustrating as it can be for some writers, it takes time to write a good article, a good story and a good book. For some writers, it may come naturally to write something fast, because they have been writing for so long that they have a good grasp on how to get their work done in good time. These are the writers who can easily get their work done quickly – and still be able to produce good work.

 

For other writers, they may need some time to write that first draft or to even finalize their fifth draft. That’s perfectly acceptable!

 

Good writing takes time to write. If you try to rush through the writing, you might miss something or make mistakes. You might end up with something poorly written or a story lacking depth, characterization and good description. I have come across many published stories that are obviously first drafts. They contain many mistakes and are poorly written. I couldn’t help but wonder if the author felt rushed to write this story and get it out there. Your readers may end up thinking the same thing if you don’t give your writing the time it requires to be written, revised and edited.

 

If you are a writer in such a situation where you do have to write something quickly (such as a news reporter), then remember how you were taught to write. Stick to your training. Write the best piece you can and go over it carefully before submitting.

 

If you are a writer with a deadline, then get to work on your assignment as soon as you can. Try to write your first draft as far away from your deadline as possible so that you have the time to go over it. Use the days leading up to your deadline to continue to research your piece and complete interviews so that you can add them to your work as your deadline moves closer.

 

In the event you have the time to write, however, then give yourself the time you need. Go at a pace that is comfortable for you. If you start struggling with your work, then step away from it in order to figure it out while doing other things. Write it as often as you can, yes, but don’t try to force it.

 

It can absolutely make a writer a more desirable candidate for work if they are able to write fast, but what you want to be able to do is produce good work. What matters the most is that you are able to produce good writing, even if it takes a little time to write it. Give yourself time to write and your work will turn out better for it.

Your First Draft Can Be Anything

 

The beauty of writing a first draft is that you can go anywhere with it. It can be anything you want it to be. It can be written in a certain POV, it can be wordy, and it can even be littered with a bunch of typos!

 

The first draft is like a playground for writers. You can throw everything at your characters and experiment with different styes of writing. You can make your story as long or as short as you want. You can insert a whole lot of off-the-rail comments into your article and explore other ideas.

 

The point of the first draft is to turn your idea for something to write into something you have written. After you finish writing that first draft, put it away for a while before you rewrite and revise. If that’s not possible, at least let it sit for a few hours while you go do other things.  

 

Don’t stress over your first draft. The first draft is just for you. It’s your very own creation. Even if you hate what you write or think it won’t work, just write it anyway. Get the idea out of your head. Just get that first draft written. Anything after your first draft is what you will polish and submit for everyone else to read.