Keep the Creator and the Editor Separate

This is an old writers’ adage heard by everyone who has ever taken Creative Writing 101. The funny thing about this adage: it’s true. If you try to edit as you write, or if you’re too critical as you write, you’re going to stifle yourself, and your creativity along with it. In Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg explains this far better than I ever could. Most of what I’m saying here I’m paraphrasing from her.

Don’t worry about anything when you’re writing your first draft except getting the words out of your head and onto paper. Place one word after another after another for however many days it takes to get that first draft done.

I allow myself complete freedom when writing a first draft. I don’t worry about too much of anything except getting that reasonably sized word count out and into the document. If things don’t make sense, I’ll fix it later. If a conversation is missing, I’ll fix it later. If more backstory is needed, I’ll fix it later. For me, the goal of the first draft is to get it done. Whatever needs revising will be seen to in a later draft.

If I were too critical during the first draft stage, I’d stop writing because I’d be too afraid to write anything down. During the first draft the creator gets free play, which opens up opportunities, ideas, and connections that may not have occurred to me otherwise. I’ve said it before: sometimes the craziest ideas are the ones that work the best. In order to leave myself the freedom to play with the crazy ideas, I need my editor out of my head. The editor will serve her role later, but not now.

When I’m teaching writing I call the first draft a sloppy copy. If you know up front it’s going to be sloppy, then you won’t waste time trying to make it right. If I have a question about what I’m writing, I type the question right into my draft (usually highlighted in bold to differentiate it from the text). If I’m not sure about the spelling of a word, or if I want a different word but can’t think of it in the moment, I put the word I want to change in parentheses like (this) and keep going.

The Mantra of the First Draft: Keep Going

I’m saying “Keep going” to myself as much as anyone else. It’s so easy to put everything else in front of writing a first draft. Like everyone else, I have a hundred things to do every day and it isn’t always easy to find the time to write, or even if I know I have the time, it’s easy enough to find an Excuse to keep me from my desk. I’m currently working on three projects at the same time, which is an interesting challenge. I’m also still researching some information for one of those projects, and if I’m still researching then there’s no reason to work on the first draft. Right?  I was, I admit, relieved, if not a little giddy, at the thought.

But then, when I’m being logical, I know there’s no reason I can’t continue punching out my 500 words a day for the project that is currently in its first draft stage. My first draft is my way of allowing my mind to wander unimpeded through the story, nudging it here, tweaking it there.

As I work through my first draft, I’m gaining a clearer idea how and where I want to fit my research into the story. After that I can move into my favorite part of writing–revising and rewriting–because the hardest part–the first draft–will be over. At least that’s what I tell myself while I’m typing out my 500 words every afternoon. In other words, despite everything else I have to do, I haven’t allowed myself to slack off from writing the first draft. I’m busy, like everyone is busy, but I have to write my 500 words or I’m not happy with myself.

What did I start out talking about again? That’s right–keep the editor and the creator separate. Don’t stifle your creativity in your first draft. Let yourself soar. Allow yourself to discover things about your story and your characters that you never would have imagined without granting yourself the freedom to try.

And keep going.