First Draft Writing

I love first draft writing because it's completely free and creative and I have no idea what's going to happen next. Well, okay, I usually have a vague idea of where I want the story to end up, but most of the time, my stories begin with character in conflict, and the world and the story get built around the conflict resolution.

I hate first draft writing because I feel like I'm dangling over the edge of a really steep drop-off, and I've no idea where I'm going next, other than straight down.

I love the fire and the pure creative energy of first-draft writing.

I hate the uncertainty of first draft writing.

I love that I can go anywhere I want, because nothing is written in stone.

I hate that I'm perfectly capable of writing myself into a corner.

I love it when The Swamprat (my muse) surprises me.

I hate that I'm sitting there at the keyboard feeling like I'm lost in the jungle without a sense of direction, a map, or a clue.

Although that's pretty much how things are in the rest of my life, so maybe that's okay. It seems to work for me.

Mostly.