A fun enough read - I would definitely shoot the little buggers in the head - about first drafts and the big Don’t. Be. Afraid. Of. Them.
It is well written, in the sense that a writer reading this must recognize his own behaviour in the words, his tremors and angst. Followed by her calming, soothing advice: don’t worry. We all do it.
It is trying a bit too much to be funny once or twice, and I wouldn’t say it is amazing in its coverage and examination, but… maybe that is exactly the point. Don’t get all academic about it. It’s just a first draft. Just go with it. Hate it as much as you like, definitely don’t analyze it, but know that it *will* help you.
I recognize a lot and will definitely try the mousy voices exercise. Won’t hurt. How I feel after a first draft? Depends on what I was drinking while I wrote it. I’ve been everywhere: from elated to depressed, from curious (hey this might actually be something) to downright nihilistic. The latter mostly happens when I look at my bookcase, see all these splendid writers, and start to convince myself: I will never be able to come even close to that.
The next steps after a first draft do not follow the same path. Sometimes I totally neglect it. Sometimes I remember the thoughts and feelings that made me write it in the first place, and even though it is shitty I sent it to a good friend. Sometimes I start working on it. Rereading, or drafting characters, plotlines, style. In short, I mess around. And sometimes even that works.
