Keep Logic, Ego And Rationality Out Of Your First Draft.
Art For Art's Sake: Part 25
Author Note:
Rubina's Bojra will be on a break from 17th to 29th April 2023.
Regular posting will be back on 30th April 2023, Sunday.
I had to learn this after failing a million times to write my first draft.
You must keep logic, ego and rationality out while writing your first draft.
Here's how each one of them hinders your process -
Logic
It will make you believe that you must follow an outline. You must follow the three-act structure. Or the typical introduction-explanation-conclusion structure for your non-fiction work. It'll make you believe you can't write a word unless you know how it will end. Logic will make you worry about the market and the readers. Logic will make you obsess over word count. Logic will make you compare your work to others and follow the template that's getting viral. Logic will make you repeat the same success formula over and over again.
In short, Logic is a brainy friend who is too in their own head and is boring.
Therefore making you anxious and your first draft boring.
Ego
It will either inflate you or deflate you beyond reason. If you had one win (reached your daily word count, an online post went viral, etc.), it'll make you believe either you are the best or you will never be able to do it again. Ego will make you compare yourself to others - either you'll look down upon someone or self-sabotage your hard work. Ego will make you worry about why isn't everyone talking about your work or why anyone would even consider reading your work. Whether it inflates or deflates you, Ego has one goal - not to make you realise your own self-worth.
In short, Ego is a toxic friend with a toxic nature.
Therefore deviating you from who you actually are and hurting your first draft.
Rationality
Rationality will make you lower your standards and compromise. It'll tell you that you can do it but shouldn't aim so high. Rationality will say to you that you can write the first draft but don't think it would be good. Rationality will make you dumb down your writing to reach a bigger audience. Rationality will tell you that it's okay to dream about being a writer, but that's what it is, a dream, so you can't imagine making it big. And when you post that essay or publish that book, and it doesn't become a success instantly, Rationality will say, "I told you."
In short, Rationality is a toxic friend with a helpful nature.
Therefore influencing you to make yourself and your dreams small and question everything you do in your first draft.
Moral of the story - keep logic, ego and rationality out of your first draft.
"I'm writing a first draft and reminding myself that I'm simply shoveling sand into a box, so that later, I can build castles."
— Shannon Hale
More in the Art For Art’s Sake series -
Deliberate Practice Is The Key To Master The Craft Of Writing
Go Low, Slow And Steady. And You’ll Reach Your Writing Milestones Quicker.
If You Are Not Having Fun While Creating, You’re Doing It Wrong
You Already Are A Writer. You Just Have To Identify As One To Yourself.
Breathe Life Into Your Writing Dream. Because If You Don’t, Who Will?
My Dear Writer, You Are Doing Your Best. Stop Beating Yourself Up.
Give Writing The Time On Your Clock And The Loyalty Of Your Heart.
Nourish Your Writer Soul And Take Care Of Your Inner Creative Well.