Write Things: On 'telling' the first draft of your story

It's Thursday and I've got an idea, inspiration, and an invitation for you.

Idea: On Revision

I urge writers to consider the first draft of their story complete after they've written it and revised it.

Some of you may have heard a similar version of this advice that goes something like this:

Our first draft is us telling ourselves the story. The second draft is us telling our reader the story. 

This is valuable advice, especially for amateur writers. Why? Because this gives you complete freedom to use as much 'telling' as you need to in order to get your story out and finish it. 

'Telling' can serve as the framework for our story, which we can later return to in the revision process and fill in with 'showing', like pouring concrete into a mold.

If you fill it in effectively, you should be able to remove the 'telling' you used, like removing the framing around a concrete pad, and have your story stand strong without it. 

Inspiration: Quick Write Prompt: "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." - Oprah Winfrey

Set a timer for four minutes and begin writing whatever is inspired from the quote above. 

As always, I'd love to hear what you wrote! Reply to this email or send it to [email protected]. I personally reply to each one received before next Thursday. 

Invitation: To 'tell' 

Choose a personal or fictional story idea that you've had bouncing around your head OR one inspired from the prompt above and try telling yourself the story. 

Don't worry about technique, artistry, 'showing', scene development, etc. Just tell the story. 

You can leave it framed out or you can pour in some storytelling afterwards.

The choice is yours. 

Either way, you'll have a new story. 

Happy creating, writers.

Trevor