ipl-logo

Shitty First Draft Analysis

394 Words2 Pages
First Draft Summary In the paper Shitty First Drafts written by Anne Lamott she explains how everyone writes shitty rough drafts even published writers. There is no perfect rough draft. Anne Lamott states, “That is how good writers end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts” (Lamott 233). When writers begin their writing they are never satisfied to begin with, most do not have a plan while writing they just begin. To go places with your writing you should use your imagination and write what comes to mind. Writers often feel like they are “pulling teeth” while writing, and they certainly have a choice to write and succeed or to give up (Lamott 234). Your first draft should be messy and unorganized of all your thoughts and
Show More
Related
165 Words | 1 Pages

In “Shitty First Drafts,” Anne Lamott expresses the need for “really, really shitty first drafts” (3). Lamott furthers her thesis by using a past writing experience as a food critic and her wanting for a pristine first draft (5) and how she eventually goes back to “writing without reining [her]self in” (6). This helps us see that all writers, even the “People’s Author,” needs to write crappily before getting a New York Times Bestseller, which they give out to everyone. However, if your draft is “healthy” (Lamott 10); the possibility of something missing, a thesis for example, you’re screwing yourself over. As more and more people have focused on that one sentence that makes or breaks the paper, the basic idea of writing is lost: the thought,

Read More
177 Words | 1 Pages

The article Shitty First Drafts written by a renowned author, Anne Lamott, is quite a piece. Shitty? Yes, the title is very eye catching but brutally honest. Written on the top of the second page, Lamott writes, “In fact, the only way I can get anything written at all is to write really, really shitty first drafts.” Even to famous authors there is a process.

Read More
281 Words | 2 Pages

In the article, “Shitty First Drafts”, from the book “Bird by Bird”, the author, Anne Lamott, clarifies a common misconception that people have about good writers and their writing process. Good writers don’t just write fully formed passages when they first start writing; they develop their ideas by making imperfect first drafts, which she implies,”… I know some very great writers… Not one of them can writes elegant first drafts” (1). Lamott introduces her claim through her thesis statement, “Now, practically even better news than that of short assignments is the idea of shitty first drafts” and “All good writers write them”(1); this is introduced in the first paragraph.

Read More
205 Words | 1 Pages

“Shitty First Drafts” definitely caught my attention because of its use of profanity in the title. It was eye catching and chose to read it first over Stephen Kings, “What Writing is”. Lamott’s and King’s ideas on writing are different from one another. King compares writing to telepathy and how pictures in people’s minds are portrayed through writing. While Lamott’s ideas are that writing is a process and it takes many attempts.

Read More
524 Words | 3 Pages

Summarize Lamott's ideas about writing in this essay in 4 or more sentences. Lamott discussed her ideas about shitty first drafts. It is the first step that writers use in writing. She indicated how flawful and inappropriate the words that we are going to have but they have to start from something. Just to put their ideas in a paper.

Read More
183 Words | 1 Pages

A short nonfiction called Shitty First Drafts by Anne Lamott explains to the reader that whenever you write, in order to have a great paper or book, they need to write a first draft and tells them that the first draft they write will be shitty. Lamott states that not one writer writes an elegant first draft and is a fantasy of what readers expect (Lamott 468). The way she writes this nonfiction, it gives the reader a confidence boost and an idea that nobody can write a perfect paper on the first attempt. Lamott even explains that she would be worried if someone would read her first draft of her writings because of how shitty they are (Lamott 470). She reassures that all good writing begins with a terrible first effort and that there will be

Read More
230 Words | 1 Pages

In the book “Everyone’s an Author,” Lunsford and the rest of the authors talk about the best way to proceed with writing. When it comes to my writing process, there are various things I am good and bad at. In my writing process, brainstorming is my strongest feature because the process is meaningful even if the information is “useful or not” (82). Furthermore, this helps with the advancement of new and thoughtful ideas. Although brainstorming seems like the easier part of writing, it requires an immense amount of thinking.

Read More
1294 Words | 6 Pages

Have you ever wondered what our children, and grandchildren’s lives will be like? We Screwed Up; A Letter of Apology to my Granddaughter (Ward, 2012) is a letter written by Chip Ward to his four year old granddaughter and her possible unborn siblings. He speaks clearly about the devastation that past generations have caused to the planet we all call home, although he fails to provide any evidence concerning what he claims, as well as majorly lacks appreciation for the organizations already working towards a better tomorrow. Chip Ward begins his letter with an apology to his granddaughter and her siblings for using up all of the oil. He claims that, “We are all gas-hogs, plain and simple” (Ward, 2012), in regards to his generation and those

Read More
907 Words | 4 Pages

Furthermore, as Lamott says this and develops her connection with beginning writers who may feel discouraged or maybe even feel overwhelmed, by offering them positive reinforcement and words of encouragement. Lamott’s word choice also has a direct impact on the pathos she portrays in her article, simply by beginning with the title “Shitty First Drafts”. Her word choice is reminiscent to that of a normal friend, and this level of

Read More
297 Words | 2 Pages

After reading Richard Maruis’ essay, “Writing Drafts” and the article, “Daily Writing Tips” by Ali Hale, I found the article by Hale more useful. I feel it is more useful because it sort of gives you step by step directions, whereas Maruis gives you a variety of options. I find it helps me understand something better when it is broken down into sections. Every writer has a different writing style. Maruis’ proposes and explains different writing styles with great detail; Hale’s article get straight to the point.

Read More
176 Words | 1 Pages

In the article “Shitty First Drafts” by Anne Lemott she discusses how every writer has difficulty putting their ideas on paper because writing should be seen as a process that even the best and famous writers follow. She also talks about how even the best writers don’t just come with ideas and just begin writing on paper and make it as their final draft. Lemott also points out the importance of being able to just write down every thought into the first draft regardless of the structure of the draft and how it makes it easier to start the second draft. After writing the second draft it makes the final draft a review of punctuation and grammar corrections. As a food reviewer she struggled putting her ideas together because she would start doubting

Read More
280 Words | 2 Pages

Writing a first draft is like giving a speech for the first time. The first time you write a piece of work or give a speech there always is lots of error. The part of “Shitty First Drafts” that I liked the most was when Lamott states that the first

Read More
765 Words | 4 Pages

Anne Lamott 's essay, “Shitty First Drafts” explains to its readers that all writers, even the best, can have “shitty first drafts.” The essay presents the proper writing process from the first draft to the final piece of work. Her essay is intended to encourage writers who are in need of direction when it comes to writing and to teach inexperienced writers ways to become more successful in writing. Anne Lamott uses her personal experiences to build credibility, figurative language to engage the reader and provides the reader with logical steps for the writing process. To build credibility on her processes success, Lamott uses her own personal experiences.

Read More
167 Words | 1 Pages

Writers everywhere experience the occasional anxiety that the world has come to know as writer's block. Leading factors of this can include, but are not limited to, stress, lack of interest or knowledge, or possibly even feeling self- conscious of your thoughts. Luckily, for us, there are many helpful tools that can assist with the issue. Writing down any and all ideas related to the topic, whether you find good or bad, significant, or not, maybe even out of order. You can always go back and make sense of it all, but this will give a general idea of where the topic is heading.

Read More
789 Words | 4 Pages

How to Begin Writing One of the many benefits of writing is the freedom and ability to express oneself. There are no limits as to where you can go when you put that pen and paper to work, or better yet, begin typing to your heart's content. Maybe you are the fictional writer, flying through the skies and fighting off fire-breathing dragons!

Read More

More about Shitty First Draft Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document