I started a new piece this week as part of my first packet for school. It came out of a writing prompt in one of my seminars, and it's been floating around in my head since I got back from the residency, so I decided to go with it. I spent three days on it, one for each page I ended up with before sending it to E for some initial feedback. She reminded me that I was doing that thing again. I was glossing over a lot of things, leaving out details that end up being questions in the reader's mind in order to get the scene over with quickly. I'll spend the next few days fleshing it out and turn these three pages into at least five. I've got to really go back to that moment and get it all down. I'm afraid. This isn't a funny story about my mother or sweet memory about my father. This one is mostly me and it's not pretty. But I can do it. I have to do it. I will do it.
5 comments:
THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!! THREE PAGES IS FANTASTIC!!!!!!
and at least you know what you need to keep an out out for. glossing over things is fine if you are writing a first draft. gloss all you want... then add details in your second draft. flesh it out in your third.... whatever works for you.
and hard stories... hard stories are hard to write. no way around it. but you can do it. don't worry about whether or not it will be good.... because we already established in the residency that you are a "good" girl ;) jk.
you're doing so great so far! even if it might not feel it, you are! so much work already done in the first two weeks! im so proud of you!
The best wriitng is when you write about the stuff you're scared to write about. You'll be fine. You can do it.
If you're writing something difficult you know you're doing something right.
And don't worry about glossing things over - Erin is right. Gloss over whatever you want in draft one. Just get it down on paper. Then add the details.
Sometimes getting the first draft out of your head is the hardest part.
Not only are you going to DO it, you're going to CRUSH it. You're writing the stories you're afraid to tell now; this is what it's all about.
Good luck!
i love coming back and reading other people's comments sometimes... you guys are so nice. so glad we're all in the same writing community. hugggggssss and kissssessssss to you guys.
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