The people I choose as models have a quality that seems to contain the past, the present, and the future all at once. It’s hard to explain. I can look at 100 people in a room but only find it in one person. -Amy Sherald
Dear Writers,
Then the other day, a writer didn’t simply accept this answer. “But really. WHY does that actually work? And how DO you let yourself write badly . . . especially if you are a perfectionist?
DANG.
She had a point. So, I made a list. Please reply to this post with your suggestions and ideas on writing badly. Because while I do feel like an expert on this subject, I am not the only expert!!!!
- What is a draft for? For me? It’s all about DISCOVERY. That’s the main job I have given that first round, and sometimes a few more rounds. So I don’t expect it to be good. Or logical. Or even in order. ALL I need to do is discover who my characters are. I need to put them in scene. See them in action. See what they’re made of. In that first draft, I don’t care as much about story as I care who is going to bring my story to life.
- Knowing yourself may make this easier or harder. While I am a perfectionist, I also have NO PROBLEMS deleting. This is because my early writing, no matter how great it is, is always wrong. At first. That makes writing badly easier.
- Can you trick yourself? Try some speed writing. Or a group sprint. Or write without your glasses. Or write longhand. Or limit yourself to 15 min a day.
- Or try Pomodoro—essentially write for 25 min, rest for ten. (And really rest. No email.) I can do anything for 25 minutes. If you struggle with attention, and that’s what letting your inner perfectionist take over, give this strategy a try.
- When I am feeling particularly uptight, I side write. I am serious when I say “EMBRACE PLAY.” Make it a game. Try writing a letter from my main character. Or a prompt. Let your antagonist apologize. See what they say.
No matter what I do, writing badly happens—whether I want it or not. But the plus side is: writing badly really helps me figure out: what my characters want. How my story will/might end. What I want to say. That thing about the subconscious? It’s true. Because mostly, writing badly also means: not listening to my internal editor. When she’s in the back seat (or in a jar with a tight lid), I take more chances.
Bottom line: When we are not thinking about PRODUCT while we write, we tap into our imaginations. When we don’t care if it’s good, we write things that maybe spark bigger things. When we are not reading over our shoulders, we are honest. And when all that goes on the page, we can reimagine what we’re writing.
Ready to stretch?????
Really, let’s start with a stretch. Hands over head. Lean to the left. Then the right. Then reach back. Then touch your toes.
Now let’s do something we did in my JUST DO IT class.
Ask your MAIN CHARACTER to give each secondary character one or two or more aliases. For me, this inspired a lot more emotion and tension. I hope it works for you.
Happy Writing!
xo Sarah