What does 'first draft' mean to you?
What my worst and best internet experiences taught me about writing.
Before anything else, enormous congratulations to my Writers' Gym podcast co-presenter Emily Inkpen for her British Science Fiction Award for audio drama The Dex Legacy – a fellow Alternative Stories production!
There was a time – and it feels longer ago than it probably is – I quite enjoyed my time with the artist formerly known as Twitter. I felt a celebration of shared interests; a sense of a conversation that was bigger than the sum of its... character counts.
I still feel that on Instagram and Substack, which I acknowledge is an art. It certainly doesn't happen automatically (much like the habit of writing itself, a certain amount of curating your circumstances is a big help). It's because of who and what I prioritise in my feed – and it's been more than worth it to meet so many lovely friends and clients online.
But one thing I'll always be thankful to the medium for is practise in one of the great first-draft challenges, the greatest notes-to-self, we can have as writers.
Say the Thing
The best piece of writing advice I ever had was from the then-deputy editor of Fangoria, Ariel Fisher, who caught me trying to give them their money's-worth by overwriting without cutting to the heart of my points. Those three words are also the best life advice. They cut through unnecessary arguments, unclear situations and meanings, by clarifying the truth that in our heads we think is too clear to bother with but we often miss entirely.
It can be so tempting to believe we need a large word-count or an empty day to say what we mean. But taking any word-count (or, in X-Twitter's case, character count) and dare ourselves to be clearer than we ever thought we could is a confidence-boost and a habit I've taken from a relationship that is no longer serving me (my Twitter name includes the words 'Really on Instagram') and moving it into my life elsewhere. Everywhere I can, in fact.
This month, I'm deep into a rewrite of something I was doing before I met the editor of my two short story collections and went off in that direction! This spring is both a new beginning and a return to essentials, bringing the creative confidence I've developed that comes from experience and the courage of strengthened curiosity to an idea that's been with me a long time. And I know I can Say The Thing quicker and clearer and more bravely than ever before. That I'm daring to tell myself the story. Not to waste time editing what I haven't written, but writing it from heart and brain first. A true first draft.
The Writers ' Gym Podcast
We're five episodes into the new series of The Writers' Gym podcast, and one very happy and successful month into The Writers' Gym's weekly programme of members' events.
This Week at the Writers' Gym:
The Writing Room on Mondays is free to everyone, members and non-members alike. It runs 11am to 1pm, and we unmute at 12.50pm for ten minutes of optional chat. It's a lovely introduction to the writing community.
Coffee and Creativity is also free to members, with a social chat bookending an hour of writing. Non-members can book here. My assistant Vanessa will be running this tomorrow, 2 April, while I have a health appointment but normal service will be resumed next week!
Friday Writing Workout is a change to flex those creative muscles with an hour of writing exercises, tips and techniques along with support and motivation to propel your work-in progress. Like all events, it's free to members; non-members can book here.
The focus, as ever, is how to make your writing life work for you through the Writers' Gym ethos of healthy habits, exercises, personal training and creative community.
Want to see if membership is right for you? Book an obligation-free call with me right here to get to the heart of where your creative work and life are and where you want to take them.
Explore membership here.
Curious to explore writing, speaking and creative confidence on the page or in personal and professional life? Unsure where to start? Ask me anything, right here.
All the best,
Rachel
Dr Rachel Knightley
www.rachelknightley.com