As my colleague Whitney mentioned, Anne Lamott's piece "Shitty First Drafts" was extremely refreshing. I find myself consistently comforted by individuals who experience similar struggles as I do when I write, but as Anne explains, in their own personalized way. I love that the writing process does not take the same form for everyone, just as it would boring as if all the people in the world were the same, or if we ate the same food everyday, and so on.
That being said, there is something so powerful about the togetherness everyone, to some degree, can feel about their personal writing progress in relation to others. This is precisely what lead me to feel comforted by Anne's theory that shitty first drafts are an essential component of the writing process. "Every artist was first an amateur"-type thinking. Even the best write first drafts and because I am, too, interested in writing, and supported by even more advanced writers, as Anne herself probably is, I feel my shitty first drafts are now solidified and absolutely necessary.
When I think about how strenuous writing can be, I feel one and only one thing can ever reassure me: that the craft of writing is beautiful and unique all the same because it is in fact strenuous and makes you want to pull your hair out. And first drafts are an essential part of that process. It reminds me of my training off-court for tennis: it is just as important as actually hitting the ball, if not more. It gives substance to the core, to the main course, to the first draft. It also reminds me of the simple life fact that one must always learn somewhere and must also start somewhere. First drafts are likely difficult to come to terms with because they are the absolute raw beginning: the hardest part of anything. Once you are immersed in the craft and you have three drafts to your name, it's not so hard. But that all started with a beginning, a choice, and an action to do so.
Maybe this example is completely irrelevant, but I feel the need to go forth with it. In the past half year I have been really into inspirational quotes and writing. It's like my whole world is suddenly colored and alive when I am inspired, and others probably have a similar experience, as they are meant to. I have also been very into developing thoughts I find inspiring, and hopefully thoughts that in turn inspire others as well. The process looks like this: I am on a run, in the shower, driving, listening to heart wrenching music, or anything else on autopilot, and it strikes me. Inspiration, a thought I wish to develop within myself, and then share with others. But see, that's not how I write my academic work. My academic work is much more professional and frankly, boring.
The audience is different. The intent is different. Yet, I couldn't have one without the other. In academia, I learn structure and the craft, the language, and so on. Then I use that skill to artistically express myself. My point is that I appreciate both immensely for how they function within their own purposes and thus how they serve to function for each other. Suddenly, limitation loses all meaning within the context of composition and writing.
I like to think that's what Anne is saying. Anyone can do and be anything they wish, but it all starts with a choice to begin. And that is something everyone can attest to. The initial step. The initial choice. And perhaps the most important.
Have a wonderful long weekend, everyone!
--Megan
1 comment:
Hi Megan,
I really liked this entry as I related to many things that you mentioned, particularly this quote “the craft of writing is beautiful and unique all the same because it is in fact strenuous and makes you want to pull your hair out” and the way that inspiration just strikes you when you least expect it. It’s an amazing feeling when it happens isn’t it? Like all of a sudden, the whole world makes sense and it’s more beautiful than you’d ever thought was possible.
About your quote, what I got from it is that writing, at least to writers, while hard to do sometimes, is worth it because we like doing it. We like the challenge, the frustration of finding the right word(s), of writing and then re-writing because 1) it’s fun and 2) it’ll make us become better writers. Growing up whenever I told my family that I wanted to be a writer, they’ll give me this look like “no, seriously, what are you going to be when you grow up/do with an English degree?” I guess they don’t really know how much work it is to write, to come up with theses and evidence to support them or creating a world that is entirely my own. It may not seem like “work” to them or me, but that’s the whole point. Writing isn’t work to me or them, because it is seen as something fun, something that people do in their spare time. Why should I spend time doing something that I absolutely hate? That I don’t find challenging or beautiful? I mean, how many people in jobs or careers that can be so frustrating and demanding really think to themselves, “It’s all going to be worth it” or most importantly, “Well that was tough, but I had FUN.” And that really is the beauty of the craft of writing. No limitations when it comes to writing as you mentioned, just FUN.
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