Shitty First Drafts - Study Notes

About the Author and Source

  • Anne Lamott (b. 1954, San Francisco) is an American writer and teacher. She:

    • Graduated from Goucher College.

    • Author of six novels (e.g., Rosie, Crooked Little Heart) and nonfiction works (Operating Instructions, Tender Mercies).

    • Contributed to California magazine, Mademoiselle, and Salon.

  • The excerpt is from Bird by Bird (1994), Lamott's book on writing.

  • Context: Lamott's philosophy emphasizes process over product, advocating for "shitty first drafts" as a path to clarity and insight through revision.

Core Thesis and Key Ideas

  • Core claim: All good writers produce shitty first drafts; this is vital for developing better second and third drafts.

  • Fantasy vs. Reality of Writing:

    • Fantasy: Uninitiated believe successful writers effortlessly produce elegant first drafts.

    • Reality: Lamott notes even celebrated writers often feel uncertain, tense, or blocked at the outset.

  • Draft Quality and Revision Relationship:

    • First draft: Essential starting point; pour out writing without harsh judgment.

    • Second draft: Improves through tightening, reorganization, and refinement.

    • Third draft: Meticulous check (like dental work) ensuring every element is solid.

  • The writing process involves discipline, fear, and perseverance, not just inspiration.

  • Lamott’s stance on anxiety, fear, and self-criticism: Writers often fear failure; starting with imperfect material is acceptable and productive.

  • Recurrent motifs and metaphors:

    • "Down draft": Rough, expansive, childlike first stage.

    • "Up draft": Second draft; correct aims, improve structure, increase accuracy.

    • "Dental draft": Third draft; rigorous pass for health and function.

    • Writing is a struggle between letting go and refining.

The Draft Process: Step-by-Step Insights

  • Step 1: Fantasy vs. Reality (Paragraph 1)

    • Most writers lack initial confidence. The romanticized image of a fully formed writer is misleading.

  • Step 2: Writing is not a seamless rush (Paragraph 2)

    • Writing rarely starts with thrills. Even accomplished writers struggle to begin.

    • Muriel Spark's "dictation from God" is noted as an unsustainable, aggressive stance.

  • Step 3: Writing is not rapturous for most (Paragraph 3)

    • Lamott admits writing is not mystical for her; it involves gritty, imperfect beginnings.

    • Her core method: start with terrible drafts and improve from there.

  • Step 4: The first draft as the child’s draft (Paragraph 4)

    • Let unfiltered, childlike voice flow without censoring. Wild or sentimental lines can reveal valuable insights later.

    • Payoff may come late, revealing the true subject or a new direction.

  • Step 5: Writing about food behind the scenes (Paragraph 5-6)

    • Lamott describes a two-day review process for California magazine.

    • Initial panic sabotaged leads; breakthrough: write a shitty first draft of the opening paragraph.

    • Humorous anecdotes illustrate emotional recovery through this simple solution.

  • Step 6: Mechanics of overcoming fear (Paragraph 6)

    • Once started, writing becomes more mechanical; initial drafts are often long and rambling.

    • Friend's reminder: "a piece of chicken is just a piece of chicken"—simplifying and focusing on substance.

  • Step 7: Trusting the process, with caveats (Paragraph 7)

    • Lamott learns to trust the process, though imperfectly ("sort of, more or less").

    • This wariness reflects universal writerly anxiety.

  • Step 8: The second draft: refining, not overhauling (Paragraph 8)

    • Involves targeted pruning and restructuring with a colored pen.

    • Aims for a better lead, tightened descriptions, and stronger overall shape.

  • Step 9: The ongoing cycle (Paragraph 9)

    • After a period, the writer revisits and repeats the review process, often facing renewed fears of judgment.

  • Step 10: Overarching principle and metaphor (Paragraph 10)

    • Lamott's three-draft metaphor: down draft (first), up draft (second), dental draft (third).

    • Core message: almost all good writing starts with terrible first efforts; just get something down.

The Three Drafts Metaphor and Its Significance

  • Down draft: Unfiltered, expansive first attempt.

  • Up draft: Revision stage; refine, reorganize, improve coherence and clarity.

  • Dental draft: Final polish; scrutinize every detail (word choice, structure, rhythm) for health and effectiveness.

  • Emphasizes good writing as a process of gradual precision, not instant inspiration.

  • Normalizes fear and imperfection as part of writing practice.

Notable Anecdotes, Quotes, and Examples

  • Fantasy of the uninitiated (Paragraph 1): Idea that successful writers draft with ease.

  • Dictation image (Paragraph 2): Muriel Spark's alleged dictation from God, described by Lamott as hostile.

  • Food-review anecdote (Paragraph 5-6): Panicked attempts at leads, realization of "shitty first draft" solution.

  • "Piece of chicken" line (Paragraph 6): Friend's advice to simplify and focus.

  • "Six crazy pages" (Paragraph 4): Potential for valuable lines late in a weak first draft.

  • Personal fear of judgment (Paragraph 9): Anxiety about readers seeing early drafts.

Ethical, Philosophical, and Practical Implications

  • Ethical: Honest process reduces stigma, encouraging practice without fear for students and professionals.

  • Philosophical: Imperfection in early stages supports a constructivist view of writing as discovery.

  • Practical:

    • Start with rough drafts to unlock ideas.

    • Use a structured revision plan (second to refine, third to polish).

    • Expect and normalize fear as part of routine.

    • Incorporate feedback/editing phases.

Expressions, Formulas, and Key Phrases to Remember

  • The three-draft model:

    • First draft: the down draft D1=first, rough unfiltered passD_1 = \text{first, rough unfiltered pass}

    • Second draft: the up draft D2=revision and refinementD_2 = \text{revision and refinement}

    • Third draft: the dental draft D3=detailed polishing and health checkD_3 = \text{detailed polishing and health check}

  • Core aphorisms:

    • "All good writers write shitty first drafts. This is how they end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts."

    • "Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something -- anything -- down on paper."

    • "It is just a piece of chicken. It is just a bit of cake."

Connections to Prior Lectures, Foundational Principles, and Real-World Relevance

  • Reinforces common writing pedagogy: revision, process over product, iterative improvement.

  • Aligns with real-world writing workflows (journalism, creative, academic) where initial drafts are rough.

  • Anecdotes illustrate concrete revision strategies for students.

  • Discussion of fear and self-doubt mirrors ethical discussions on mental models in creative work, encouraging resilience.

Reflection Prompts (Based on the Text)

  • Question 1: Lamott coins the term the fantasy of the uninitiated in paragraph 1. What does she mean, how does it contrast with reality, and how does it shape your writing approach?

  • Question 2: In paragraph 7, Lamott says she eventually lets herself trust the process—"sort of, more or less." Do you think this wariness is personal or universal? Explain.

  • Question 3: From Lamott’s perspective, is writing a first draft more about the product or the process? Do you agree for your own practice? Why or why not?

Source and Citation

Lamott, Anne. "Shitty First Drafts." Language Awareness: Readings for College Writers. Ed. Paul Eschholz, Alfred Rosa, and Virginia Clark. 9th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2005: 93-96.