Write for the rubbish bin

First drafts should be “long and incoherent and hideous” according to Anne Lamott (Bird By Bird). She talks about any writers greatest fear is being hit by a bus and leaving an awful draft behind for people to discover. I think her book is also where I learnt the concept of writing for the rubbish bin.

One of my long term writing clients really struggles with the blank page. Once they’ve got words it’s easier. But no words? No way. We recently got to the root of this issue; perfectionism. They want every sentence, every word, they write to be good.

Unfortunately that’s not how writing often goes. Though I do know some people who’s first draft is better than my fifth (you know who you are), it’s rare. We write crap, then we edit or rewrite till it’s better.

Writing for the rubbish bin means to write as though you’re going to throw it out anyway. But then you don’t. When you come back to it later (whenever that is) you may find it wasn’t as terrible as you thought. Some of it may be salvageable, all of it may be salvageable with a little editing or some tweaks.

We are our own worst critics and that stops us from achieving. I’ve met many people who write better than me, first draft or tenth draft, but they don’t allow themselves to finish. They are reaching for the unattainable.

Traditionally published books still have the odd typo; that little fighter than managed to stay there through several edits by the author, editor and publishing house. It happens.

What I’m working on with this writing client (and also a coaching client) is to create something imperfect. Make perfectly messy progress. If we fuck up, that’s how we learn. But if we’re too scared to try then we never learn to walk (or write).

If you’re interested in a writing session with me you can read more here