Chris Link's Shitty First Drafts Response

Reading “Shitty First Drafts” helped me become more comfortable with the idea that not all my work has to be perfect at first. Whenever I had to write a paper for my high school classes, I would always be dissatisfied with my product at first. Much like Anne Lamott, I would stress about how my work wouldn’t live up to the standards that I had set for myself previously. My first attempts usually tend to be a stream of consciousness that ends up sloppy and full of errors but as I continue refining my work I would see noticeable improvement. This selection from Bird by Bird showed me that professional writers who work on their craft for a living also have trouble writing first and even second drafts. Personally, I become stressed when confronted with a deadline so it’s relieving to see a profession writer go through the same struggles that I do.    

I very much enjoyed the humor injected into what could be a cut and dry boring article about first drafts. Lamott kept me engaged throughout the entire passage and I appreciated how she was able to give a personal account of her experience as a writer. I also appreciated the insight into how she prepared her food reviews. I wouldn’t have considered that she would bring friends and record the bulk of what they were saying during the duration of the meal. It makes me wonder if this is a common practice in the food reviewing industry or if it’s just her specific niche.

Getting back to the topic at hand, this piece helped reassure me that I’m not the only one who struggles with first drafts and the lack of quality that comes with them. Lamott’s writing style kept me interested in the passage the entire time I was reading it and the humor was a very nice touch. I would love to read more of her work and maybe eat at the restaurants she reviewed.