How Messy Can My First Draft Be?

Writing EncouragementWriting TipsWriting PassionWriting Inspiration
Written By Lisa Clifford - Author/Journalist

Very messy. Or not messy at all. Your book’s first draft is such a personal thing. A first draft is like how much butter and jam you like on your toast; it depends on you and your character. But it’s a question I’m often asked at our creative writing retreats in Tuscany.

“Can my drafts be messy? Should they be neat and tidy? Or can they be all tangled up, with paragraphs and phrases and dialogue that I may not use?”

I’ve seen first drafts and subsequent drafts with alternative endings. No formatting at all. No paragraphs at all, only great slabs of text (that almost did my head in). Drafts in which characters need to be removed or added. Or need more inner reflection, or less character inner reflection. There are first drafts that need massive re-structuring. As well as drafts that have very wobbly beginnings. Or the plot is not solidified. Mostly though, first drafts are over written and need to be cut. And definitely those initial drafts help us crystalize themes and plots as we plod through them.

The main thing to understand is that your drafts are working documents. They are flawed and will be imperfect. That’s what makes it a draft. Rarely does a first draft need ‘tweaking.’ It’s more likely to need a machete slash, cut and paste.

The meaning of the word draft is:

Draft is defined as an initial version of a piece of writing or written document, which is often checked before verification.

It’s an odds-on bet if you’ve finished your first draft, you’ve just spent a long period of time actually writing. But the words are now on the page. So, congratulations! Truly well done you. It’s a huge thing to finish your first and subsequent drafts because if you haven’t written any words down, you’ve got nothing to work on.

So to answer this blog’s question, it doesn’t matter how messy your first draft is! Just write it!

Don’t forget Laurel Cohn and Lisa will be running a special The Next Draft retreat in Florence from June 25-29, 2023. All drafts welcome! This is a unique workshop that drills down on your revision process. Please earmark your diaries and join us in Florence for this event. The program is now up on the Art of Writing site.

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2023 Art of Writing Dates

Sunday, May 7th to Thursday, May 11th, 2023, Florence

Sunday, June 4th to Thursday, June 8th, 2023, Florence

Sunday, June 25th to Thursday, June 29th The Next Draft, for finished manuscripts.

Sunday July 9th to Thursday, July 13th, 2023, Florence

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If you’d like to share any comments or thoughts, I’d be happy to hear from you. Email me directly at lisacliffordwriter@gmail.com.

Lisa Clifford - Author/Journalist

I was seventeen years old and as I watched my step on the suicidally thin strips of footpath, I never imagined that I would marry one of the Italian boys on the Vespas that shot up and down the tiny, medieval streets of Florence.

But one year after arriving in Florence to study Italian, I did fall in love. There followed eighteen years of going back and forth between Italy and Sydney, trying to decide where to live. During these early years of oscillation, I won a scholarship to the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. After graduating, I became a radio journalist and reported for 2GB, Kiss FM and corresponded for the ABC, 2UE and the American Radio News Network. Ultimately I moved into television news and while Associate Producer with Channel 10 I wrote my first book – Walking Sydney, A Guide to 25 of Sydney’s Best Walks.

During those eighteen years I always, always went back to Florence to see my gorgeous Italian boyfriend.

The move to live permanently in Italy and marry Paolo brought me two beautiful babies. Three books followed – The Promise, Death in the Mountains and Naples: A Way of Love. My current work in progress keeps me busy travelling all over Italy. I hope you’ll join me on writing tips, formulas, updates and manuscript developments on my blog.

After four decades of living in and writing about Italy, I decided it was time to share what I have learnt here in Tuscany by helping other writers achieve their dreams. My Art of Writing retreats are for beginning, emerging and established writers. We bring famous publishers and published authors to the Florence to teach and share their journeys.

I hope you can join me. I’d love to meet you and help you take your idea to novel, in what I think is the perfect environment for creativity.

— Lisa Clifford

http://www.lisacliffordwriter.com/
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