Candice Burrows By now you would have thought that we would’ve all gotten the memo that nothing in life is perfect. This is especially true when it comes to writing your first draft.
Newsflash: not even your final draft will be perfect.
Do not wait for perfection. Instead write because that tiny voice from deep within demands quietly yet persistently that you do.
Do not wait for perfection. Perfection is a trap, it’s a set up. The joke is on us if we think that we can write something worth reading without it first having a few flaws. It is often the flaws in most things that give them character.
When I am in the process of writing my first draft, I do my best to allow my work to be what it will be, to see what takes shape. I give the work the space and time it requires, but mostly, I try not to expect it to be anything more than what it is, a first draft. By releasing myself from expectation, I give my inner voice the platform it requires and allow the words to flow freely. I constantly tell myself that there is a second draft brewing somewhere inside of me, and if I allow perfection to stop me from writing the first draft, how can I progress?
If I were to look too closely at any piece of writing that I have completed (first – final drafts) I could pick it to pieces, and I usually do. At first I was deeply discouraged by this part of the process or self sabotage as I used call it, I would say, “I can’t believe I thought this was good, this is horrible!” or “Where was I even going with this, delete…, delete…, delete?” I would abandon the work and sometimes even the thought of writing itself. However, the more time I spend writing first, second, third, etc. drafts, I realize that I learn so much about myself and the piece itself by tearing it apart and putting it back together or walking away from it and giving it space. It is through the process of writing each draft that I discover what I am really trying to say and learn how I can say it better and express myself more clearly.
I now enjoy coming back to a piece after some time away from it, shedding the words that aren’t necessary, and stripping it bare, as I continue to look at what makes the story richer, more complex. It is during this part of the process that I can look at it with fresh eyes and see the gaps and make the connections where they are needed. I now accept that this is a crucial part of the process. Every draft gives me the opportunity to find my voice, and I have come to understand and appreciate the fact that it takes time to find the right words and make them your own.
But most importantly, when I take a look my first draft, I don’t allow the imperfections to get in the way of my joy of writing. I practice looking at my words and reminding myself that this IS the process, this is how we get better, this is how we strengthen and sharpen our skills, and hone our craft. The goal for me now is no longer to perfect the writing initially, but rather to get a piece of my soul on paper. I search myself, and the words, to find what it is that I am trying to say, what is it inside me that is demanding to be written.
I constantly remind myself that I am trying to leave a part of myself out there between the lines, in the place where the words and blank spaces meet. Now I run with the words and allow them to flow, taking me where they will. I have learned to trust the process and look forward to find new ways to grow and develop my writing. By giving up on perfection I am truly free to do what that tiny voice deep within continues to ask of me… write.
