I’m happy to report that I’ve been wearing my purple bracelet for more than 24 hours now, and I haven’t had to move it to the other arm once. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil – that’s me, for at least the next three weeks.
Maybe.
While browsing my friends’ blogs tonight, Julie’s FAST DRAFT EXPRESS post caught my eye. 50,000 words, maybe more, drafted in a single month? It sounded so seductive. “No more of this bird-feather-by-bird-feather business,” I thought. “I’ll give wings to several flocks of birds at a single sitting!” True to my nature, and before I could stop myself, I signed up.
And now, a swarm of butterflies have taken flight in my tummy. Nothing fatal, of course, just a little fear of the unknown. I don’t regret my decision, but if I’m going to be successful, I need to (re)focus on the positive. When I squint my eyes and tilt my head just so, I can see how being forced to writer faster will help me outpace my inner critic. And it’s the perfect set-up for failure opportunity to use some choice swear words remain positive under pressure. Right? Right?
My dear writer friends, what do you think about FAST DRAFT writing (or for that matter, NaNoWriMo and other projects of that ilk)? Tell me everything – the good, bad, and ugly, plus your tips and tricks. If I have to switch my band back and forth because of our conversation, so be it. Before this bullet train leaves the station, I need you to sit down next to me and dish.
By the way, I still have a few purple wristbands available, so if you want me to send you one, just ask. A few people thought about joining us in Project Pollyanna, then declined. Not that I’m pointing fingers, mind you; I’m just pointing out the facts.
One more thing, posted without commentary because I want my purple bracelet to stay put. Apparently, I’m not the only one thinking about writing a memoir. At the annual Radio and Television Correspondents’ dinner last night, President Bush told the audience he’s contemplating a book about his life. “I’m thinking of something really fun and creative for mine,” he said. “You know, maybe a pop-up book.”
Well, personally I have tried two different kind of things. I did NaNoWriMo in 2005, and it was great fun, but I don’t know how useful it is if you take your writing seriously. At least I didn’t feel it was all that useful. I finished and got a text out of it, but it was so bad it took me over a year before I managed to read through the whole thing. I kind of felt that I ruined a good idea by trying to write it too fast. However, I did learn to write every day, and maybe picked up a thing or two about discipline.
Lately I’ve done and that suited me better. A more humane pace but still the everyday accountability. And I even finished ahead of time! Which of course is a great boost to the ego.
What I like best about both projects was the sense of community. You knew that a lot of people out there were doing the same thing. It was nice.
I like the sense of accountability and community, too. I work best under tight deadlines, and I love having a support group. Thanks for your input. I like hearing from people who’ve actually tried Fast Drafting before, or at least some version of it.
I tried NANO and JONONANO (not sure I got all the letters right in that one)–I just can’t crank work out unless I’ve got a “real” dealine, meaning someone has told me such and such had to be done by this date or else you won’t get paid! I have Inattentive ADD–opposite of hyperactive and it’s sooooo easy to get distracted and stay focused.
As for Pollyanna, I won’t tell you how she gets raked over the coals in one of my books because the Project is such a nice idea!
I’m one of those procrastinate, then go-like-all-get-out kind of girls, too. I NEED a deadline to help me pick up the pace.
The Project’s a nice idea, but I’m wondering about my ability to live up to the Pollyanna ideal. Heh
My two cents on writing fast (or writing slow, for that matter): when you get stuck … you can jump ahead to a different chapter.
You can do it!
That’s a great idea! Thank you, and why didn’t I think of that?
I sure do appreciate having you as my cheerleader. 🙂
That’s a great idea! Thank you, and why didn’t I think of that?
I sure do appreciate having you as my cheerleader. 🙂
My thoughts are that it focuses more on writing something than writing a good something. Maybe the writing won’t end up good, but it will end up. At the end you’ll have something to edit, revise, and change. So I guess maybe that’s a good thing. “Outpacing the inner critic” seems like something NaNoWriMo and the likes could help do. Best of luck!
My inner critic doesn’t know how to use her inside voice, and she talks incessantly. I’m hoping this will help drown out her negative words. We’ll see…
Good for you on both counts. Me, I find writing like pulling a tapeworm, so no go on the bullet train. And purple bracelets? I’d be switching sides every ten minutes. If I could get thru a single day…
I think/hope I’ve kept my goals reasonable but still lofty enough that I’ll still have to work hard every day to accomplish them. Like you, I have to work hard for every word…mainly because for every one I write, my inner critic tells me to hit ‘delete.’ heh.
Congrats on the purple bracelet, that is really a challenge. It’s a noble idea, one that I think I might be able to take on if I didn’t have to go to work. Oh the attitudes there.
As far as fast drafting, it’s how I write all my first drafts now. 10,000 words a week. I find my voice flows better and like you said, it helps to outrun the inner critic. My favorite MS I’ve written so far is the one I wrote for NaNo. How do I keep up? On weekdays I write 1000 words in the morning (taking breaks) and 1000 for the afternoon. It’s really good motivation to get it done before the weekend, ’cause if I’m not done, I have to finish it then.
It is such a high to get the first draft done – while you still like it, that is.
I kinda slipped up at my writers group last night. Honestly, I bounced that bracelet back and forth so many times I lost track. Boo, but today I’m starting over…. 🙂
10,000 words a week? Wow. I’m going to try for a more modest amount, then pick up the pace if I’m able.
Do you find you hate your manuscript/idea after writing so many words so fast?
You already know what I think. 🙂
Thanks for posting the link!
I wouldn’t have anything to revise if not for fast drafting.
I know that a lot of people get concerned with the idea of producing quality work, and it is true that you can produce a lot of garbage when you write fast, but I believe that good writing is done at the revision stage anyway, this is definitely the method for me!
The idea is to plot it out BEFORE you start the fast draft..not to wing it. You’re just not slowing the process by going over the same passages over and over and getting frustrated to the point that you’re ready to call it quits.
I wouldn’t have anything to revise if not for fast drafting.
Ah yes, that’s my primary motivation!
Thanks for generating this idea. Even though I’m a lot nervous, I’m looking forward to it.
I wouldn’t have anything to revise if not for fast drafting.
Ah yes, that’s my primary motivation!
Thanks for generating this idea. Even though I’m a lot nervous, I’m looking forward to it.
I did NaNo in November. It was a good experience, and I wrote the sequel to my historical fantasy during that time. It’s still not revised, however, because I lost interest in it (which is one of the inherent problems of writing that intensely, perhaps), BUT I have pages of notes that I’ll use for the revision *when* I need to 🙂
Looking forward to my bracelet!
Your bracelet went out in the mail; you should have it by very early next week. Use your purple powers to send me positive thoughts about this writing project, will ya? I’m nervous. 🙂
Oh, you know I will! And I know you’ll do well, Melodye — you’re clearly gifted 🙂
Honestly? I write 10-12 pages a day, so I don’t participate in these writing challenges. I wish you luck, dear girl! YOU CAN DO IT!
Sheesh, K. That’s AMAZING! I don’t know how you do it…but I’d like to find out! 🙂
Trying to stay positive here, but honest…
I’ll just say it’s not for me and wish you well. It works for lots of other people.
Ha! I LOVE the icon!!!!! *covets*
As for whether this project will work for me, I guess time will tell. Thanks for the well wishes!
I think they’re great to help you get rid of your inner critic. It helps you to let go and just WRITE, without analyzing and back-peddling. You HAVE to keep moving forward, though not necessarily in a linear line. I think it’s also a great way to develop new ideas and see if you’ve really got a story worth telling. And one thing it did for me (NaNo) was help me get over my fear of writing crappy material. I’ve learned that crappy material is usually salvageable, but you can’t do diddly squat with a blank page. 🙂
You’ll be fine! Just repeat after me, “It’s okay to write a crappy first draft!”. It really is! *wink* And most of the time, it ends up being a lot better than you thought it would be anyways.
It helps you to let go and just WRITE, without analyzing and back-peddling.
Thanks for this — it’s the real reason I’m doing FAST DRAFT, to tell my inner critic to step off, and to get off the dime.
“It’s okay to write a crappy first draft…repeat, ad nauseum…” We’ll see. 🙂
LOL! Good luck, Melodye!!! 🙂
I’ll bet the Prez uses FastDraft to do his pop-up memoirs! It’s the only way to fly. (Remember those commercials for PanAm–or was it Braniff? Jackie Gleason did one.)
I think FastDraft is a lot of fun. I write quickly anyway when I have a good idea, and if I’m prodded to go on, usually I break through to what needs to happen next. *MY* problem is motivation: write more of this same kind of stuff because . . . of what? What is it FOR? If it’s hopeless to find someone who likes my style and will publish it, then it’s a waste of time. I’m killing trees for nothing when I should be out doing (what??) something useful. I get discouraged and dejected. Sometimes when I’m on a FastDraft mailing list I can keep on going just because there’s an artificial “reason” to keep doing it, so that can help.
The downside of FastDraft is that it makes more manuscripts. Bad ones, good ones, whatever. Then those manuscripts go to clog up the agents’ mailboxes and crowd MINE out. The agents get bad ones and decree that they aren’t taking any more queries without referrals, and the agents get good ones and make multi-book deals, meaning their list is now full up and they don’t want any more queries. This adds to the huge number of logs floating down the river, giving mine less of a chance. That’s the downside of having everyone do FastDraft. *grin*
If I got a purple bracelet, I wouldn’t be able to say ANYthing. =wink=
Ha ha ha! About the Prez, I’ll bet you’re right!
FUN? I hope so. The idea seems fun, or at least gratifying. We’ll see.
About the downside…You’re so funny. I love your wry wit! Nevermind the purple bracelet; I’d miss reading your perspectives if you were forced to always focus on the positive.
I’ll bet the Prez uses FastDraft to do his pop-up memoirs! It’s the only way to fly. (Remember those commercials for PanAm–or was it Braniff? Jackie Gleason did one.)
I think FastDraft is a lot of fun. I write quickly anyway when I have a good idea, and if I’m prodded to go on, usually I break through to what needs to happen next. *MY* problem is motivation: write more of this same kind of stuff because . . . of what? What is it FOR? If it’s hopeless to find someone who likes my style and will publish it, then it’s a waste of time. I’m killing trees for nothing when I should be out doing (what??) something useful. I get discouraged and dejected. Sometimes when I’m on a FastDraft mailing list I can keep on going just because there’s an artificial “reason” to keep doing it, so that can help.
The downside of FastDraft is that it makes more manuscripts. Bad ones, good ones, whatever. Then those manuscripts go to clog up the agents’ mailboxes and crowd MINE out. The agents get bad ones and decree that they aren’t taking any more queries without referrals, and the agents get good ones and make multi-book deals, meaning their list is now full up and they don’t want any more queries. This adds to the huge number of logs floating down the river, giving mine less of a chance. That’s the downside of having everyone do FastDraft. *grin*
If I got a purple bracelet, I wouldn’t be able to say ANYthing. =wink=
Fastdraft
I’m not a writer, but I read all the comments up to now, and I like the idea of getting your ideas down while they are fresh in your head. Do you have a place to put random thoughts which don’t fit right in, but you can use later?
I’ve always felt the written word should be sacred. You have an idea, and wish to communicate it to others. I’ve always felt that properly written and punctuated, your written words should express exactly your thoughts and ideas, with no room for interpretation or ambiguity.
Of course, that’s just me!
BTW – I went back and took a look at the photos in some of your older posts. I think you have a good eye.
Re: Fastdraft
I do have a page for “snippets” — memories, phrases, reference materials I can use sometime, somewhere.
I agree with you about the sacred trust between the reader and writer, and the need to be accurate and careful with your communications. That said, I’m Type A++++++ about these things, which often means I don’t write a single word. This FAST DRAFT idea will help me get my ideas down on the page, forcing me to wait to do the editing. I need that.
THanks for the photo compliment. Wow; coming from you, that means a lot.
Re: Fastdraft
Do you go for walks in the morning or afternoon? At the beach, perhaps? Try to always take your camera along. Take the shots, then look at them when you get home. Dump ’em if you don’t like ’em. That’s the great thing about digital.
Hi! You don’t know me, but I’m a friend of Boston Erin’s. If you still have extra bracelets, I would love to play. I could use an excuse to be more positive!
I’ve never done a speed writing thing, but I might try it after I finish my MFA program next summer. Can’t wait to hear how this goes for you!
~WB
Writerbug.blogspot.com
I’d love to send you one…check your blogspot journal for a message from me. 🙂
I cannot for the month of April officially sign up, but I think this internal editor is much of my problem. A spend a good bit of time back-peddling as someone said. I”m going to try this philsophy the next few weeks. You can’t revise, if you don’t have words on a page. Thanks for getting me thinking. ~Kristin
Glad you got a toe-hold on a new idea. It’s new to me, too, but I really do think it’ll help. Let’s keep in touch so we can find out how it worked for each of us, OK?
I cannot for the month of April officially sign up, but I think this internal editor is much of my problem. A spend a good bit of time back-peddling as someone said. I”m going to try this philsophy the next few weeks. You can’t revise, if you don’t have words on a page. Thanks for getting me thinking. ~Kristin