The Agony of the First Draft

So, this is how I've been feeling for the past two weeks, as I've struggled to finish Book #2 in the 4-book Omega Sector Series:

I'm pretty sure I've even looked like that guy in the last few days. But now, with no intent to be sacrilegious whatsoever, I can honestly say: It. Is. Finished.

The first draft, that is.

As I write more (this is the fourth complete novel I've written) I'm beginning to understand more about my personal writing process.

My process evidently involves writing a painful first draft, sobbing the whole time that:

I'm not a "real" writer, 
Nobody understands how hard this really is,
I'm always behind schedule, 
This is the worst book that has ever been written. Ever.
I just want to watch TV!
I have no intrinsic talent,
I'm sure I have permanent spine issues from sitting at this computer for so many hours,
My editor will laugh when she reads this book and burn my contract,
Why am I doing this again? 

All of these things run through my head -- constantly -- when I am writing. Capt Awesome (my poor husband) and a few of my friends take the brunt of the crazy most of the time during my first draft period, making it safe for me to be around other humans.

I reach a stress level while writing every book where I do this laugh/cry thing. I'm overwhelmed with stress but then Capt Awesome says something funny and I just totally lose it: laughing hysterically and sobbing uncontrollably at the same time. It's quite funny and yet very disturbing at the same time.

Just doing my part to make sure my kids have something to talk to their therapists about when they get older.

But then I finish the first draft, and realize that, somehow, everything is going to be alright.

Because once I finish that first draft, I have something to work with. I no longer have a blank screen in front of me, taunting me with it's emptiness -- reflecting my own inadequacies.

Instead I have something that can be molded into, hopefully, a pretty decent story. It may take a bunch of reworking, changing, or even eliminating: but it's never as scary as the first draft.

But if I had stopped and camped out in the hysteria of my own mind during the first draft, then I'd be stuck there. I'd never realize how a first draft can so easily be turned into something actually readable. By other people, even!

But it has to be written first. First drafts are unavoidable.

 I'll try to remember all this next month when I'm back in the throes of the first draft of Book 3. But somehow, I doubt I'll remember.

My Writing Space - Cindy Myers

I'm continuing my series about something that interests me personally: writing spaces. I love to hear about that creative nook writers make for themselves in order to encourage the word-smithing genius. Therefore I've asked some of my author friends to share a picture and description of their personal writing spaces. 

This week I'm delighted to have the writing space of Cindy (or Cindi -- depending on what she's writing) Myers. Cindy and I met at the Romance Writers of America conference last July, and had lunch together with our editor. Although Cindy is an accomplished author (a USA Today bestselling one!) having written dozens of books for Harlequin, Cindy is branching out into Harlequin Intrigues in 2014 for the first time. 

She's a lovely lady and a hugely talented author and I appreciate her sharing about her writing space from her home in Colorado.

From the Desk of Cindy Myers:

This photo is of one of my writing space. It's my office, where the magic sometimes happens. I resisted the urge to neaten it up. What you can't see are the boxes and stacks of books everywhere around me, the exercise bike I don't ride nearly enough, and the dog bed where my "assistants" -- Katie and Winston -- hang out.

This is an armoir desk that folds up into a neat-looking armoir -- but it's never folded -- too much junk on it. Things I like -- besides photos of family and friends -- I tack up inspirational sayings and pictures. My Rita flag from when I was nominated for a Rita in 2009, for The Right Mr. Wrong. The stuffed Mammoth mascot for the Colorado Mammoth indoor lacrosse team. My ever-present cup of tea (today it's chocolate mint, but I also like green chai, coconut chai, and English breakfast.)

This is the official writing space, but it's in the back of the house and it's cold, so a lot of times in the winter I write in the living room, on the sofa in front of the fire. And in the summer I like to write on the front porch. I once wrote a whole book in our RV parked in the back yard, because the internet doesn't reach out there and I was desperate to make my deadline. (Hey, whatever it takes.)

I live in the country and my house is nice and quiet, so I can write anywhere that's comfortable -- but when I really want to feel like a writer -- or I need to do bookwork, or consult from the wall of research books also not shown in this photo -- this is where I work, my official office. 

http://www.cindimyers.com/

Cindy has two books available now: The Mountain Between Us and Secret Santa.

My Writing Space - Jane Hunt

I'm continuing my series about something that interests me personally: writing spaces. I love to hear about that creative nook writers make for themselves in order to encourage the word-smithing genius. Therefore I've asked some of my author friends to share a picture and description of their personal writing spaces. 

My guest for this week is Jane Hunt, whom I've never met in person -- perhaps due to us living on different continents, but had the pleasure of getting to know during Harlequin's 2012 SYTYCW contest. (I still cringe when I think of my insanity with that contest -- seriously, I think Harlequin revamped the entire competition after hearing about the things I'd done last year.) Neither Jane nor I were finalists that writing contest, but both of us went on to successfully publish 2014. (You can ignore the hint of "nanny-nanny-boo-boo" in my tone).

Jane's first novel THE DRAGON LEGACY ("a sensual paranormal romance" -- sounds yummy!) will be released in January 2014 through Crimson Frost Books.

From the Desk of Jane Hunt:
Hi Janie thanks for inviting me to talk about my writing work space today.

I have an office on the second floor of our three storey house. In the summer I love to write in the garden or in the summerhouse. It has been known for me to write in bed if it's cold and rainy outside. I have shared the office since I started writing full time a year ago. I gained exclusive use of this work space in August when my husband moved into the garden office. I have roof top views of the surrounding countryside but ideally I would love to overlook hills and lakes. Well I can dream.  

My work space has a modern desk, bookcases and lots of ornaments. I share the space with my dogs Jazz and Oby they are wonderful company when I am writing for long periods of time. My favourite office possession is my Laptop a Christmas present from my children last year. Something I couldn't live without. I also adore my collection of ornaments given to me by my mother. I particularly love the desk and typewriter teapot and the secret garden. My keep calm plaque from my daughter always makes me smile.  

My desk although functional is the part of my office I like least. I would prefer an antique ladies writing desk. I came close to having one for my 30th wedding anniversary in August this year but we used the money to adopt Oby our latest dog from a rescue centre.

More about Jane Hunt:

My website is Jane Hunt Writer

First Steps is my blog.

Twitter: @ jolliffe03

Facebook pages: Jane Hunt Writer and The Dragon Legacy

Google+ Jane Hunt

Pinterest