“You can’t edit a blank page.”-Nora Roberts

Every writer needs a map. This map needs to be beyond an outline! While I am an advocate of outlines (when the story demands it), I am a bigger fan and proponent of letting the story write itself. I am a bigger fan of letting the story tell itself. This is what the first draft is for! The first draft is meant for you to fumble, stubble, and figure out what its you want to write about.

Yes, Hemingway was right. “All first drafts are shit.” Yes, this is a direct quote. As coarse as it is, he’s right! First drafts are chaotic, messy and they make you doubt your sanity. This is why there is a tug of war between writing and not writing! There will always be this tug of war because first drafts are hard to get through. But, to add to something, something must be there first.

Rewrites are not punishment–they are needed direction. Get through the hard stuff, to get to the good stuff. Writing is a discipline, and rewrites demand that level of focus. Your future writer self will thank you.