Shitty First Drafts by Anne Lamott Study Notes
Author Background
Anne Lamott:
Born in San Francisco in 1954.
Graduate of Goucher College in Baltimore.
Author of six novels including:
Rosie (1983)
Crooked Little Heart (1997)
All New People (2000)
Blue Shoes (2002)
Worked as:
Food reviewer for California Magazine.
Book reviewer for Mademoiselle.
Contributor to Salon’s “Mothers Who Think.”
Notable nonfiction works:
Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First Year (1993) - Chronicles experiences as a single parent.
Tender Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith (1999) - Exploration of faith journey.
Overview of "Shitty First Drafts"
Taken from Lamott’s book Bird by Bird (1994).
Central Thesis: Emphasizes the need for writers to embrace the idea of writing "shitty first drafts" as a pathway to producing compelling second and third drafts.
The Reality of Writing
Misconceptions about Successful Writers:
People often imagine that successful writers feel confident, talented, and effortless when writing.
Lamott dismisses this as a fantasy of the uninitiated.
States that even well-known authors do not routinely feel confident; most do not produce elegant first drafts.
Humorous Anecdote: Mentions one writer who claims the choice is between typing or killing oneself, showcasing the struggle many writers face.
Writing can feel as challenging as pulling teeth, and even a writer with fluid prose has to work hard.
Experience of Shitty First Drafts
Lamott reflects on her own writing process, declaring that:
Writing is often not pleasurable or rapturous for most writers.
First Draft as "Child's Draft":
Encourage allowing raw, unfiltered thoughts and voices to flow onto the page without self-censorship.
Example of including whimsical, childlike phrases, illustrating the freedom of expression in initial drafts.
Process of Getting to Quality:
Lavish creative freedom in the first draft can lead to discovering insights and directions for writing in subsequent drafts.
Personal Anecdotes
Food Reviews for California Magazine:
Writing process included multiple visits to restaurants with friends.
Initial drafting caused panic even after years of writing experience.
Describes the feelings of despair and thoughts of inadequacy when stuck on constructing a lead.
Reflection on the power of simply writing a terrible draft:
Allows for the pressure of perfection to be lifted, resulting in creativity.
Lamott shares the ongoing cycle of writing, editing, and fearing the first draft will be seen before revisions can be made.
The Drafting Process
Drafting Stages as defined by Lamott:
First Draft: Known as the "down draft"; focus on getting ideas down on paper without worrying about quality.
Second Draft: Labeled the "up draft"; revising to clarify and improve the writing, refining thoughts for accuracy.
Third Draft: Called the "dental draft"; meticulous proofreading and refining, correcting any errors in clarity, coherence, and structure.
Conclusion on Writing
Key Takeaway: All good writing commences with subpar first efforts. Writers must allow themselves to produce any content initially and subsequently refine it. Lamott emphasizes this as a universal principle applicable to her and other writers.
Discussion Questions
Misconceptions of Writing: Lamott describes perceptions of writers as distinct from the realities of the writing process.
Explores what she means by “the fantasy of the uninitiated.”
Trusting the Process: Lamott mentions that she had to “trust the process – sort of, more or less.”
Examine the nuances of this expression. Is her caution personal, or does it resonate with all writers?
Final Thoughts on Drafting: Analyze whether writing a first draft focuses more on the product or process.
Encourage personal reflection on this aspect in relation to one’s own writing experiences.
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.