Comments on: What Is A First Draft?

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:15:34 +0000

This is why it might be therapeutic to mentally squash these bugs. Sometimes I can’t help but get frustrated at the sheer stupidity of such behavior, but the best thing to do is keep writing and move on.

Holly, I’ve read your Secret Texts series and I’ve been reading TalysMana, and I’m fascinated by the differences and can’t wait to see how TalysMana shapes up. The draft you are so bravely sharing with us is a great window into the writing process, one that few writers of any skill get to see. Every little bit I learn about that process bolsters my own resolve to stop editing and start writing till I actually have a full draft! I further bolster it by repeating to myself that the first novel is always the hardest.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:20:21 +0000

Holly, I really appreciate seeing more of your creative process. Reading your draft I think I’m finally getting the idea of what a “scene” means. And now I realize that many of what I thought were my own scenes have nothing important happening… well, easier to realize it now than in revision. Thanks so much for sharing!

By: Fran

Fran — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:03:22 +0000

Dear Holly,
Well, everyone else has already pretty much said it. The only thing I would like to add is that maybe this woman is a friend of Nate’s….

By: Elmi

Elmi — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:30:55 +0000

Ditto to all the amazing things people have said so far. You have given me the courage to write-write-write, instead of write-fuss-write-delete-revise-write-fuss-worry-worry-some-more-stop. You have changed my life & made “the impossible dream” something I now know I can do, and do well. Thank you!

By: Danzier

Danzier — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:16:31 +0000

You’re welcome.

Holly, I didn’t see an answer to my printout question, so I went ahead and printed your “What is a Rough Draft?” post (with the url at the bottom) and when my hubby asked how I was doing on the book I said, “Ok, but I think you should read this please.”

He’s now backed way off, and instead of saying “fix this!” he has started saying “were you planning to work on this part when you revise?” Happy dance! : D

By: Sonya

Sonya — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:20:54 +0000

You know what? I wonder how Little Miss Nasty Note managed to pick up that your work had deteriorated. She’s obviously challenged in the reading department – how else would she miss the disclaimer at the beginning of each email that you’re sharing the first draft of the story. For free, as well.

I’m sure you knew before everybody left their comments here how much (almost) everyone is enjoying the story as it unfolds. Like everyone before me, I’m glad you’re sharing the first draft with us.

By: Carol

Carol — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:18:39 +0000

I love this story. You may feel it needs lots of work, but I can’t see it. It’s fabulous.

By: Carol

Carol — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:13:46 +0000

I had the same experience so many times that I gave up writing for many years. I don’t show my writing to part of my family at all any more and to others only occasionally.

By: Alice

Alice — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 04:01:08 +0000

Holly,

I just finished your motivation course. I did it because I was finding myself so stuck in HtRYN and Lo and Behold… I’ve begun to write peotry.

I didn’t like peotry in school or out and if you’d told me I’d be writing poetry I would have rushed you to the nearest hospital emergency room to have your temperature taken.

Not only am I writing and sharing it… [apparently it's good stuff according to several strong poets I know ] I’m loving the doing of it. Amazing.

That’s great course which surprized me and both showed me new things i had hidden away in side and helped me reclaim another piece of myself.

So I too am in flux, how wonderful, Alice

By: Holly

Holly — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:19:11 +0000

That’s seriously funny, and a really excellent idea.