My "Shitty First Drafts" Response

After reading Anne Lamott’s “Shitty First Drafts”, I instantly felt a little more comfortable with my imperfections as a writer. I generally enjoy writing, but sometimes I feel a little discouraged as I go through the motions of the writing process, especially when my work isn’t flowing and coming together nicely right off the bat. This article was a wholesome reminder that not all writers are perfect, and it was a great reminder for me as I begin a writing intensive class.

Throughout the article, I loved Lamott’s inclusion of humorous comments about how no writer truly knows what’s going on when they sit down to begin a piece. She stated that few writers know what they’re doing until they’ve done it, and that writers don't just sit down feeling like a million bucks. I enjoyed the humorous tactics because truthfully, being an amateur writer in a world full of brilliant authors is quite intimidating. The humorous kicks and even the “not even God likes her” in reference to the perfect writer was a really helpful way in getting the point across that success is a skill that takes much practice, and that it’s okay to be a little lost and confused about my own work sometimes.

The authors anecdote about a personal experience with imperfect writing was enjoyable to read because while being humorous, it was a way that she supported her case with factual evidence in the form of a story. All day long she could convince her audience that it’s okay to not be a perfect writer, but her inclusion of the many times she struggled with her drafts when she worked for California Magazine was proof that she is most definitely truthful about the productive struggle that writing entails.

Overall, reading “Shitty First Drafts” was a positive experience for me as a writer because it provided me with a little support for my writing journey. After reading this, I’ll be able to constantly remind myself to keep pushing forward until things start to fall together and make sense, because that “perfect” draft isn't going to write itself.