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Thursday 6 September 2012

Is it worth sharing a first draft in progress with a writing class?

On Writing

I read Stephen King's 'On Writing' on holiday this summer. This book is well worth a read with advice on all aspects of writing. It was so good that I'll read it again soon and make notes. However, the first part is autobiographical and it takes a few chapters to get to the bits which are especially useful. I could write a whole series of blog posts about the points Stephen King makes (and maybe I will), but this week the point most relevant to me is about showing the first draft to a writing class.

He says:

'The pressure to explain is always on, and a lot of creative energy, it seems to me, is therefore going in the wrong direction. You find yourself constantly questioning your prose and your purpose when what you should probably be doing is writing as fast as the Ginger-bread Man runs, getting that first draft down on paper while the shape of the fossil is still bright and clear in your mind.'

I agree.

Last year I started my first draft of Book 2, 'The Painting' and went to a few writing classes, using the novel for homework exercises. This part was useful as it gave me ideas on where to take the plot. But when it came to reading out my homework in class, the subsequent analysis seemed to hinder my progression. I began to analyse what I'd written instead of getting the story down without thinking too much about it.

I must point out that these writing classes were great for me in many ways. I hadn't written a first draft for a few years and I wanted to do timed exercises to regain my confidence. Also my fellow students and teacher were lovely and I've kept in touch with some of them (Hello if you're reading!). I enjoy spending time with other writers and it's comforting when someone in a class says, 'I don't feel like writing at the moment and don't know how to get back into it...' It's good to know I'm not the only one who has to put the kitchen timer next to my computer and make myself write for twenty minutes sometimes.

In hindsight, I should have used the class for writing about other stuff, keeping Book 2 to myself until I'd completed the first draft.

So now I'm aiming to complete the first draft of Book 2 ('The Painting') by Christmas so I can submit an edited version to The RNA's New Writers' Scheme next summer (as long as I'm lucky enough to get onto the scheme again). I shall continue with my quest to get Book 1 ('The Grandson') published, but in the meantime I need to produce another novel.

I'd be interested to read your comments on first drafts or on anything relating to the above.

24 comments:

  1. Interesting post Anita. I too have read 'On Writing' and blogged about how valuable I found his advice. Also, I share your reservations about sharing a first draft. I experienced the same scenario during my MLitt workshops and sometimes left feeling more bewildered about where to go next rather than getting to the end before I was open to feedback. I'm not so sure now that first drafts are fit for public viewing- well not mine anyway!

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    1. It's a brilliant book and easy to read because of his no-nonsense style of writing. Yes, I think first drafts ought to stay in the computer!

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    2. ps, thanks for leaving a comment Helen!

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  2. I like to polish as much as I can before I get critiques. I find them more helpful that way and less painful to my ego. ;)

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    1. Hi Kelly, thanks for your comment. Yes, egos can get easily bruised in writing classes!

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  3. I agree with Kelly. I never show, read or talk about a mss until it is where I want it to be. Then my agent gets to read it. I like to hear 'my' voice, not others, as I'm insecure enough, and would probably end up with a book written by a committee!

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  4. Thanks for your comment Carol. The general consensus seems to be keep first drafts to yourself!

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  5. Another interesting topic! I agree about first drafts - the pages have to be filled before there's any analysis. However, it's got me pondering about poems and, also, short, short fiction. I may well blog about this so thank you for the inspiration, Anita!

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    1. Hi Josephine, thanks so much for visiting and for posting a comment. I keep seeing your tweets about poems, making a mental note to read them on your blog. Will check out later. Look forward to reading your post!

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    2. Josephine has written an post about workshopping poetry here: http://josephinecorcoran.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/when-is-the-best-time-to-workshop-a-poem/

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  6. Hi Anita - I've been re-reading the wonderful Stephen King's book again too ..... snap! I don't think I'd show a first draft to a writing class. We are, after all primarily writing for readers who are reading for pleasure. People in a class are looking at fiction in a different way, they are picking it apart and analysing it. I feel sometimes therefore there might be a tendency to 'overwork' things. It's difficult! Best of luck with your writing.

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    1. Hi Cara, thanks for commenting. it is a great book and I'm sure I'll read it many times. You're right, the analysis reminds me a bit of English A level classes and is too much for an early draft.

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    2. Ps thanks for the good luck wish. Hope your writing is going well.x

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  7. I don't share anything I write until it's reached a certain level of "completion" that I feel happy with, I don't think it's useful to show work too early in the process, and have it pulled apart. My confidence would be demolished :)

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    1. Hi Louise, thanks for your comment. Everyone commenting seems to agree! Hope your writing is going well.

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  8. I must read Stephen King's On Writing again soon. There's so much information, most of which I'm sure goes straight out of my head as soon as I've read it, sadly.

    I don't show anyone my first draft (or even second or third), in fact I think the first person to ever see my work must be the RNA NWS Reader that my mss is sent to.

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    1. Hi Debs, thanks for visiting and for your comment. Yes, the book is packed with so much info, that I couldn't absorb it all at once. Also I downloaded it on Kindle and wish I had the paperback so I could mark the useful bits with post-it notes.

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  9. I, too, think On Writing is excellent, Anita.

    I wouldn't want to show a first draft to anyone. I polish it as much as I can before I show the light of day. Even after I've polished it, I know that there'll still be the sort of work done that only independent, objective eyes can spot, but I like to feel that I've sorted out the obvious problems before anyone else sees it.

    Liz X

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    1. Hi Liz, thanks for your comment. Expect you've had a busy week-hope it went well and best of luck on Friday.x

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  10. It has been manic, and the next week is equally manic. And the week after...

    Many thanks for the good wishes for Friday's launch of The Road Back. I have made 200 mini sausage rolls, and enlisted the help of Messrs Waitrose for the rest of the nibbles. I do hope it goes well.

    Liz X

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    1. Homemade sausage rolls-yum! Can you send some over?

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  11. I'll remember that. I might well be in need of someone to help me eat the leftovers for breakfast. In my enthusiasm to have sufficient for everyone, I may have over-catered!!

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  12. I just went through this (am taking a class now) and decided not to share a first draft I just finished -- for all the reasons you've mentioned. And after reading this, I'm doubly glad I didn't. Instead I shared part of a novel I'm already querying... which I suppose opens up another whole can of worms, right? :)

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    1. Hi Julia, thanks very much for visiting and for your comment. It is difficult! I've learnt so much about characters and plot from classes and brainstorming has helped me come up with ideas on how to take my novel forwards when stuck. So it may be helpful to take the novel you're already querying to a class. Good luck!

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