tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post1899679043690019575..comments2024-03-28T02:34:34.041-07:00Comments on Rachna's Scriptorium: First drafts and rewritesRachna Chhabriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-67407388012321646692012-05-25T13:31:46.853-07:002012-05-25T13:31:46.853-07:00Thanks for sharing your
insight.
From the previou...Thanks for sharing your<br />insight. <br />From the previous <br />comments, I can see <br />that others dread <br />the first draft.<br />Oftentimes, I cringe <br />after reading my first <br />attempt and then soon <br />realize I have the <br />ability to make it <br />better and better.<br /><br />I have been hopping <br />from site to site <br />and just looked <br />down to see that <br />you are located in <br />Bangalore. My soon <br />to be published book <br />focuses on my adventure <br />in Bangalore.What a <br />small world.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09736971160814837961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-81978235025977697552012-05-24T20:52:17.914-07:002012-05-24T20:52:17.914-07:00I love drafting. The rewriting, ugh, not so much. ...I love drafting. The rewriting, ugh, not so much. :) <br /><br />AngelaAngela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-73435939224965956112012-05-24T07:50:49.486-07:002012-05-24T07:50:49.486-07:00I love writing first drafts, but I love rewriting ...I love writing first drafts, but I love rewriting too. And I whole-heartedly agree with taking a break in between drafts! It always helps me get a better perspective.Shalleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09907680428735740943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-19746686264140905802012-05-23T10:52:13.894-07:002012-05-23T10:52:13.894-07:00I agree with Hemingway. I don't enjoy writing ...I agree with Hemingway. I don't enjoy writing a first draft, not even a little. My goal is to get it down so that I can begin the part that I love--revising. Great post.Cynthia Chapman Willishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-32507216093909495082012-05-22T18:50:03.179-07:002012-05-22T18:50:03.179-07:00Did he really say that?:) I have a hard time belie...Did he really say that?:) I have a hard time believing Hemingway used the word shit! (but i believe you)Life Unordinaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14500378311526554168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-41786492564679330452012-05-22T09:05:16.241-07:002012-05-22T09:05:16.241-07:00I have to agree with you on the quote.
www.modern...I have to agree with you on the quote.<br /><br />www.modernworld4.blogspot.comGina Gaohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09032273127593718883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-66256767756236788002012-05-22T05:52:33.617-07:002012-05-22T05:52:33.617-07:00I do love to rewrite because that first draft is a...I do love to rewrite because that first draft is awful! But at least it's down on the paper.Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-40017308379999426552012-05-21T16:00:13.931-07:002012-05-21T16:00:13.931-07:00lol, Ernest Hemingway said it straight.
My greate...lol, Ernest Hemingway said it straight.<br /><br />My greatest downfall is that I overthink things. Because of this, I try to write a first draft really fast, so I don't have time to think about it. Anything can be fixed.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-33954436313633062222012-05-21T11:16:27.386-07:002012-05-21T11:16:27.386-07:00I write my first drafrs usually on my laptop, with...I write my first drafrs usually on my laptop, with all my notes and character profiles around me. I usually write a section a day, not doing more than that because I don't want to overwork my brain. Like you I just try to get everything down that I can think of. Then in the re-write I go back and polish and revise. Like you I take a few days off before I attempt this though.<br /><br />Some tips you might like are to make sure you have plenty of water and healthy snacks on hand, just in case you use hunger or thirst to get up during a first draft writing session. Also, it's helpful to have a calm place you go to write the first draft. A place you know you won't be disturbed and that is filled with things that comfort you. That way you're more likely to stick around there and write.<br /><br />JaiJai Joshihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04858987106548357551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-52376600750428176652012-05-21T08:58:42.408-07:002012-05-21T08:58:42.408-07:00Great post! I totally agree. Editing and revisions...Great post! I totally agree. Editing and revisions are crucial to making that manuscript shine. :)Precy Larkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16714824672731935371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-52327509831708004302012-05-20T10:49:28.530-07:002012-05-20T10:49:28.530-07:00I also draft in long-hand, pantsing it. Then I use...I also draft in long-hand, pantsing it. Then I use the structure I learnt from it and draw up a plan. That done, I rewrite to the computer from pretty much scratch. :-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-29672894028115745152012-05-19T19:29:08.861-07:002012-05-19T19:29:08.861-07:00I agree, it's best not to worry about the qual...I agree, it's best not to worry about the quality of the first draft, just get it down and edit later. I actually take about a month to let it sit before I attempt the first round of edits.alexiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07122487552931794871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-17755280410086781612012-05-19T16:16:43.396-07:002012-05-19T16:16:43.396-07:00Okaaay! So it means that any basic plot ideas, cha...Okaaay! So it means that any basic plot ideas, character sketches, that are scribbled down in a senseless and haphazard manner will belong to the first draft? Then I MIGHT have the beginnings of a first-draft-of-sorts...Michelle Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02750092836481599870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-57658768455158347952012-05-19T16:14:19.946-07:002012-05-19T16:14:19.946-07:00I have to get over feelings of inadequacy when wri...I have to get over feelings of inadequacy when writing a rough draft. I just need to get everything down on paper. I live for revisions. I love seeing the manuscript take shape.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-32962101158011422622012-05-19T05:20:09.271-07:002012-05-19T05:20:09.271-07:00Hi Rachna! Thanks for sharing your process! I th...Hi Rachna! Thanks for sharing your process! I think it sounds like you know what works for you and I am envious!!! ;)<br /><br />Keep on writing!!!Cheryl Klarichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12633250643087095689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-35951947775031900642012-05-19T01:08:56.014-07:002012-05-19T01:08:56.014-07:00I don't always rewrite as such. Sometimes it&#...I don't always rewrite as such. Sometimes it's no more than typing up what I've written in longhand. When I do seriously rewrite there usually comes a moment when it seems to have become unmanageable. It's when I get out of that that the real enjoyment comes.Dave Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430484174826768488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-39911798930079743592012-05-18T16:41:45.260-07:002012-05-18T16:41:45.260-07:00I have to get that story on paper one way or the o...I have to get that story on paper one way or the other. Then at least I know what I'm up against. Ha!<br /><br />Rewrites can be fun. And they can be daunting. It all depends on how we look at it. :-)Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-53719060894061190012012-05-18T11:23:23.380-07:002012-05-18T11:23:23.380-07:00I prefer editing and rewrites to the first draft. ...I prefer editing and rewrites to the first draft. I just want to get the basic storyline on paper so I can see what I am working with.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-25657691195066662622012-05-18T10:22:50.205-07:002012-05-18T10:22:50.205-07:00@ Rahul, my first drafts are just scene outlines w...@ Rahul, my first drafts are just scene outlines with major plot points being covered.<br /><br />@ Stina, I too love doing the rewrites. Once I have the first draft in place I attack it from all sides.<br /><br />@ Richard, I am half plotter and half panster. For this book I started writing just after the basic story outline was in place. <br /><br />@ Mooderino, I too struggle with the first draft. But once its done, I look forward to shaping it through several drafts.<br /><br />@ Stephen, I like the idea of hiring a professional editor. It will save me a lot of stress and anxiety.<br /><br />@ Laura, you are so much like me. I too like to write the first draft in longhand and as I type I make the changes and revise the draft I am typing.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-85195133395329311402012-05-18T09:24:01.870-07:002012-05-18T09:24:01.870-07:00I write the first draft in longhand, too! It makes...I write the first draft in longhand, too! It makes the first revisions go smoother as I type it up on my computer.Laura S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13934230198562773803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-3668519722277001662012-05-18T09:11:16.761-07:002012-05-18T09:11:16.761-07:00One thing I do is pay my editor a bit of $$$ to re...One thing I do is pay my editor a bit of $$$ to read my draft. That little bit of cash goes a long way in constructive feedback, advice, and guidance. And it saves me a lot of time and frustration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-88237001272972369132012-05-18T08:14:48.886-07:002012-05-18T08:14:48.886-07:00I really struggle with the first draft, the awfuln...I really struggle with the first draft, the awfulness of it makes me want to stop. But once I get through to the end, the shaping process is a lot more fun. <br /><br />mood<br /><a href="http://moodywriting.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Moody Writing</a><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/mooderino" rel="nofollow">@mooderino</a><br /><a href="http://www.scoop.it/t/the-funnily-enough" rel="nofollow">The Funnily Enough</a>mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-79222729639188176962012-05-18T06:32:00.080-07:002012-05-18T06:32:00.080-07:00That's because you're a pantser, it sounds...That's because you're a pantser, it sounds like. You get an idea and just start writing and see where it goes.writing and living by Richard P Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814139767151989286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-85889070509803510212012-05-18T06:03:14.682-07:002012-05-18T06:03:14.682-07:00My first draft has been on a world cruise while I ...My first draft has been on a world cruise while I finished up with my revision request rewrites. That's the longest I've ever left a first draft alone. <br /><br />Fortunately I LOVE doing rewrites. And I have a feeling I'm going to be doing a lot of them once I go back to my first draft. :DStinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083612851716281896.post-44095054739235308132012-05-18T00:24:55.181-07:002012-05-18T00:24:55.181-07:00Agree completely, Rachna that the first draft is a...Agree completely, Rachna that the first draft is a bare bone skeleton on which we constantly chisel till we have a finished look of the final manuscript:)Rahul Bhatiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690287853990880735noreply@blogger.com