When I’m writing a first draft, I know that I’ll be returning to it later and that I’ll – very probably - throw most of it away and come up with a whole new set of words. That’s okay. I know that putting those words down on paper is just the first stage, and that often it’s a way of ordering my thoughts and finding out where I really want to go.
At least I’ve made a start.
What puzzles me are the times when I know what I want to say, sit down at my desk and write with little or no hesitation. Out come the words, the way I want them to, and when I finish I’m more than happy, knowing that I’ve done some good work.
When I look at them again, usually the next day as I’m warming up for a new session, they often turn out to be – not always but often - rubbish. Long-winded, vague and repetitive. Not what I wanted to say at all. So I rewrite them, and they get better, and that’s fine and on I go… but just always a little puzzled at the gap between perception and reality.
I suspect I’m not alone in this.
2 comments:
Totally understand & recognise this pattern. Given the ubiquitous industry advice to leave m/ss alone for a span between two weeks & several months to see it with fresh eyes, presumably it's widespread/universal. My guess. The subconscious is mulling deeply what we are trying to say, hence we recognise earlier faltering steps as we approach a better version.
You are definitely not alone!
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