Like many writers (most, probably), I have a shelf of books on writing. How to edit, how to structure, how to…you get the idea. But one of my most loved, most read is a tiny volume by Anne Lamott called Bird by Bird. (And I just checked, it’s not on the shelf. I remember reading it last summer AND NOW I CAN’T FIND IT!!!)
Excuse me. Moving on.
Bird is less of a “how to” book and more of a philosophy book. Lamott talks about 1-inch picture frames and the concept of “bird by bird” to make the daunting task of writing a novel a little more manageable. How do you write 90,000 words? One scene at a time.
Another concept Lamott talks about is “the shitty first draft.” She’s a big proponent of this. Writing every day with no idea to whether the words are “good” or “bad.” You can fix it later. Just write. Me, I found this exceptionally freeing. I didn’t need to worry about quality–yet. I need to put the words on the page. Quality doesn’t matter–yet.
But for some writers, the phrase “shitty first draft” was unpalatable. They felt the words reflected poorly on the writer and the work. That nothing you write is “shit.” And neither are you. I get it. And while I get how they feel, I’m not sure I agree with it.
But that’s not what this post is about.
Over time, I’ve come up with a different phrase. One that is slightly more “family friendly” as well. I can’t claim total ownership of it, because I’m pretty sure I heard it from someone else, but I used it recently and a few friends of mine, including editor Ramona DeFelice Long, liked it. I call it Draft Zero.
The phrase is not only more G-rated, it carries a lot of subtext. A lot of meaning. Many things are zero. Ground Zero is where an event starts. Patient Zero is where a plague starts. And, as Ramona pointed out. Draft Zero is where the story starts.
Draft Zero is messy. Maybe a little disjointed. Full of all those things you are supposed to avoid as a writer – adverbs, repeated phrases, cliches. But that’s okay. All things “zero” are messy. Think of Ground Zero in New York for 9/11. It’s a big hole in the ground where two shining towers once stood. I’ve never seen a Patient Zero, but I can’t imagine it’s all that pretty.
But Draft Zero is mine. No one else will ever see it. Buried in there somewhere is a story. I add words. I cut them off, I file the rough corners, polish the surface. Eventually, the shape of the story emerges. At least enough that I can let other people see it. That might be Draft One. Or Two, or Three or…well, you get the picture. And eventually, the story has fully emerged. Like a bird from the shell. Eventually ready to fledge.
Draft Zero. Messy. Chaotic. Ugly.
But essential.
Image by Peter Miller, used under Creative Commons license
Love this post, Mary! Zero drafts are a must for me, otherwise I get too caught up in the details and lose sight of the big picture. I haven’t read Bird by Bird yet, although I’m thinking it’s time I finally picked it up 🙂
Yes, you have to read the book. It’s an easy read – you can do it in an afternoon. And the great thing is you can take what works and put it to use almost immediately.