Not many people are happy with the first draft.
The first version of my Master’s thesis was so bad and in such juvenile language, that I just deleted it totally and started again from scratch. The second version had about 3 revisions before submission – it passed first time.
With creative writing I still start with a fountain pen and a bottle of ink as I find I can get my ideas down faster this way. Then the second part of creating is to type up and develop ideas. Then it goes on the backburner for a while before reviewing.
And this is when the frustration starts.
Before submitting a poem there may be one word that just doesn’t feel right and I can agonise over it for months or years. A paragraph in a short story or a character name that just doesn’t feel right; is it Dave Jordan or Dave Wright?
With a novel?
There are at least four sitting on my hard drive, waiting for the final edit. There is always a chapter that doesn’t aid the continuity or develop a character or set a scene or even make me laugh!
It has to be done.
As we move out of the dystopian year of 2020 I am committing to finishing more. To reduce the amount of time I agonise on a word or a paragraph. To publish more.
I just went to my notes and found nine working titles for books, four of which already have first drafts saved and the other 5 with outlines planned.
So I look back for inspiration. There are plenty of motivational quotes about and I often include them in my blogs. Two of my favourites are on YouTube, from Denzel Washington and Admiral William McRaven.
I just watched both again before setting out to work on ‘Trans-Uranic Elements: The Dark Side of Uranus’ the second in my Tales of Fairy Hanny. I intend to publish it on Amazon before January has finished. Please tell me off if I don’t.
And I just made my bed.
Am here not just because you wrote about writing, but because you wrote about fountain pens and inks, lol. I too enjoy drafting longhand so that I get to use my pens. What are your favourite pens/inks at the moment?
Also noticed your bio says you do so many things, and I too collect hobbies, with climbing being one of them. Great to meet you!
Hi Stuart. My current favourite pen is a Cross Townsend 2013 Year of the Snake special edition. I also use classic Parker/Quink ink. I also have a Cross silver Townsend and a couple of Parker Classics. A Mont Blanc is on the wish list for next year.
“And I just made my bed”, 😂.
I really enjoyed reading the post it made me want to get my arse up to work.
Thankyou Nabila
Writing a novel can literally suck the life out of you. I can understand the frustration involved with moving forward while wrapping up what’s behind. But it’s a motion that has its own personal and professional vibe. Good luck with your writing!