A couple of weeks ago I saw a tweet sent out by crime writer @stavsherez that sparked a new idea for the blog. Stav tweeted a photograph of a heavily edited document which he stated was his first draft. Not only did I think first drafts were a great topic, I thought it was a topic I could work in as a regular slot.
As writers we all work differently. Some writers hate doing the first draft and struggle through it, others love the process. Some edit as they go, some writers just put anything that is in their head onto paper and work it out from there.
I’m in that second camp. I feel that my first draft is utter drivel but I like working with it, once it’s down. I have a skeleton with which to work and and I go from there.
What I did find interesting about Stav’s tweet, was that he was willing to tweet a photo of his heavily scribbled on work.
So, on that note, I intend to have a proforma set of questions all around that first draft. I want a deep and meaningful about where these drafts come from, and where the writer digs down to get them from. I want to know the state of their working environment. I want all the messy stuff.
I also think having a set of questions for something like this will prove quick and easy in the organisational stakes.
I hope to be able to do this with, traditionally published writers, independently published and those still on their work in progress.
It requires a bit of honesty and a photo of either a very scribbled on hard copy document or messy desktop/desk/post-it’s etc. We want to see your very soul!
I’m off to think of deep and meaningful questions. Let me know if you would be interested in having the first draft questions.
I’m looking forward to seeing how writers do things differently!
Oooh…this’ll be fascinating! 🙂 I’m a plodder during the first draft. I don’t edit (much) but it has to be in fairly decent shape otherwise I’d just get depressed the whole thing.
I don’t edit as I go and I’m a bit of a pantser, that I am trying to plot a bit this time, but it’s all going into a bit of a wierdness…
Rebecca, how does it work with a word processor? I’m assuming writers use a word processor and then take printouts of their first drafts for editing and proofing by hand before carrying out the changes back on the word processor. Or are writers still comfortable writing their first drafts on paper?
Prashant, I think everyone is different, I wrote on a word processor, but printed off to edit for huge revisions as I found it easier that way. Though I know some writers do still do their first drafts on paper. It will be interesting to see as these posts come out 🙂
I’d love to share my first draft of…… Should I admit this? I think I will lol, it was my tenth draft that finally got the yes that’s the one it’s finally good enough it can be signed off now.
Brilliant idea as always Rebecca 🙂
Helen xx
Sent from my iPhone
Ooh, are wanting to do the first draft questions Helen? I’d love to have you on here! 🙂
Absolutely. Ask away.
Brilliant, can you let me have your email please Kate and I’ll send them to you 🙂
I think this is an awesome idea Rebecca. I’m excited to see how it develops. I’ve always been one of those editors who pass it off to betas and then base corrections off of what they think and respond to some of my questions. Questions always get me thinking.
It seems as though it’s a popular idea. The first one is up tomorrow 🙂
That’s a really great idea! Wonder if I could find any of my first drafts? I hate writing them, but I usually spend months planning the outline and am so careful as I write that they aren’t too messy when I’m done. (And then I get to edit and revise, which is much more fun.)
I prefer the edit and revise stage. Getting it into real shape is much better than putting that skeleton down.
Let me know if you want to take part Alex!
Great idea honey, look forward to it! 🙂
xx
The first one starts tomorrow Vikki! 🙂
Rebecca – Oh, what a great discussion this will spark! What a terrific idea! I’m looking forward to reading about others’ draft processes.
I think it will be interesting Margot, because we all do things so differently. There just isn’t a set formula is there?
That should be interesting.
I participated in a blog hop where everyone had to post pics of their WIP in the process of being edited. I had a few that I had printed out for editing and found a nice page full of red. It was a fun hop.
Because we all do things differently, I’m definitely looking forward to hearing how other writers work their first drafts. The first one is up tomorrow 🙂
I’ll be very interested to see what people do! I would love to help but as I’ve only ever got about 30k through a first draft before bursting into tears and starting again, I don’t think I qualify 😉
I don’t know Linda. Check out the questions that are up tomorrow. It’s all the same questions. I think you could probably answer them. Let me know if you fancy it! 🙂
Oh boy. My dark secrets.
You’re interested? 🙂
I’d love to talk about my first drafts! What a great idea 🙂
And you’re up tomorrow 🙂
This is a great idea, Rebecca. I’m looking forward to it! 😀
It will be interesting to see how we all work differently. There is no right or wrong way to approach a manuscript. It should be fun 🙂 Let me know if you want to take part 🙂
Ha ha – you’ve seen my first draft howlers…actually you’ve seen, read and commented on a lot of my first drafts! (although I always do three drafts before I’m convinced it’s good enough for a first draft status and I feel comfortable enough to get feedback.)
Count me in, I’d love to do a post for you. As a writer, it fascinates me how we all tackle things differently. It’s a question I’m asked over and over, but who is to say that my method is right, so it has to be a diplomatic answer ‘well, this is how I do it it but I know of others who do it like this…’
You’re star. I think that’s the interesting thing, we all write and work so differently, and I think that’s why there is the interest in this topic. I’m interested to see how others do it 🙂
Sounds like a fun idea… put me in, coach 🙂
Done and thank you 🙂
I’d love to play.Digital files and terrifying hard copies of my first novel first draft still lurk in my office. As we speak, I’m preparing the outline for my second novel first draft. Yikes!
Can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with.
That’s great Nancy. I can’t find an email or contact form for you. If you email me rebecca.bradley2010 (at) gmail.com I will send you the questions 🙂
That’s such a great idea! I’m definitely a messy first drafter, which means I get the first draft down fairly quickly… It’s the editing that seems to take forever!
Yes, my first draft is definitely messy. I like the editing and revising though. I have something I can work with. It will be interesting to see the differences in how people work. I’m looking forward to it, 🙂
I’d be glad to get put thru the wringer. 🙂
I have the scribblings of a first draft of a short KS1 story I am working on for my Halloween themed Patron of Reading session.