"The one statement I would stand behind, though, is this: With limited exceptions, never begin writing anything with the assumption that you'll just fix the whole thing when you rewrite it. That assumption can lead to sloppy writing and result in a weaker first draft than you might otherwise be capable of creating."
Interesting. I want to say I've heard or read of an author's opinion, which proposes the opposite. The theory behind that opinion was that a completed first draft gives the author a sense of encouragement, even if the first draft is lacking. I want to say I read that in Stephen King's "On Writing" but it could have been something I picked up at a convention. It is also possible that my neurons simply misfired. Or an opinion I've completed mangled and/or taken out of context.
"Being willing to rewrite can lead to uncovering gems of prose that you might not have realized you had within you. Rewriting can also lead to great improvement in your work..."
On a related note, I think Stephen King said (or a character in one of his novels said) that the purpose of the first draft is to define the plot, and the purpose of the second draft is to add the meaning, message, or emotional oomph, that becomes apparent after the plot is written.
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Date: 2006-12-20 12:02 am (UTC)Interesting. I want to say I've heard or read of an author's opinion, which proposes the opposite. The theory behind that opinion was that a completed first draft gives the author a sense of encouragement, even if the first draft is lacking. I want to say I read that in Stephen King's "On Writing" but it could have been something I picked up at a convention. It is also possible that my neurons simply misfired. Or an opinion I've completed mangled and/or taken out of context.
"Being willing to rewrite can lead to uncovering gems of prose that you might not have realized you had within you. Rewriting can also lead to great improvement in your work..."
On a related note, I think Stephen King said (or a character in one of his novels said) that the purpose of the first draft is to define the plot, and the purpose of the second draft is to add the meaning, message, or emotional oomph, that becomes apparent after the plot is written.
When asked about rewriting here is what seven authors had to say.