I enjoyed your article. As a screenwriter who has written many scripts (BLUNT FORCE was filmed last December in Mississippi) I know about getting a first draft down. And I agree with you, just get it down, take a few days away from it, then go back and see what you have.

Very seldom has my finished first draft closely resembled the outline I originally was supposed to follow - a river does not flow straight to the ocean or lake that it empties into. But this is the beauty of writing, in that I find it fascinating how the story turns and twists (like a river) on its way to the finish, gathering momentum, power and creativity. As we arrive at certain points in our story, new reflections and memories of our own lives arrive and collide with what we had intended on writing, which makes that river (our story) take another twist or turn. When that happens we learn more about ourselves, which makes us more innovative as our story continues. This imagination we're forced to manifest as we write our first draft is an inventiveness that builds our substances as creative artists. To know our characters well is the key as our characters will write the words for us if we have taken the time to know them well enough.

Yes, that first draft, it is so rewarding and so much fun to write, especially as we review it and wonder how we twisted away from that original outline. But that was because we found a different path to follow, which was better than the initial map. And our story can and will twist and turn from here in future drafts and that is okay, for we’re the creators.

How brave of you to take your notepad and write longhand. I do a lot of editing longhand. It just helps to read it on paper (I think I'm dating myself terribly here!) I can't wait to hear about your family vacation.

I should say that Reggie helps tremendously on my first drafts. He sleeps by my feet and snores. 🙂