Christine Mitchell
Sarah Ostiz

English 101

Shitty First Drafts response

I think, one thing people can agree on, with the exception of that one perfect person is shitty first draft. In the article “Shitty First Drafts” Anne Lamott talks about how even the best writers in the world have shitty first drafts. She goes on to explain that at times stories don’t just come pouring out of the writers fingers with just one try, they don’t just sit back and instantly a best seller is created. It takes that shitty first draft to first create your vision, then the second draft to clarified your vision and then finally the third take your vision and turn it into a master piece.

One line that stood out to me was when Anne Lamott stated “we all often feel like we are pulling teeth, even those writers whose prose ends up being the most natural and fluid,” that’s something I definitely can relate to at times its feels like its takes everything inside me to just figure out the first paragraph let alone the stature of what my essay should be like. And at times those end up being the best essays, the ones that I had no clue on what or where to even start.

Something else that stood out to me was “I’d get up and study my teeth in the mirror for a while. Then I’d stop, remember to breathe, make a few phone calls, hit the kitchen and chow down. Eventually I’d go back and sit down at my desk, and sigh for the next ten minutes” (Anne Lamott). I think a lot of people can relate to this, I for one can, there are times where I sit back and prepare myself to write an essay and come up with one line, searching the air for the answer and nothing. Then I close the book shut it close, call it a day I’m “toast” as Anne mention, and go about my day. I would clean the house anything, then come back to it and its like something in me just jolted and boom I’m writing my first draft just letting my ideas and thoughts pour right out of me, who cares if it doesn’t make any sense.

I believe Anne Lamott purpose when writing this article, was to let people know everyone even the best of the best at times struggle to come up with the best story and it all started with that shitty first draft. To not stress yourself out and beat yourself up. Take your time and let your ideas flow start that first draft, write whatever comes to mind, even if you think if someone reads it a may not make sense, but at least you see the vision your going for, it’s for your eyes only. Shitty first drafts are the beginning to something great!