Dear Reader,
Today I am going to be talking about an essay called “Shitty First Drafts” by Anne Lamont. A big part of my summary is going to be the importance of accepting the imperfect nature of writing. But most people do not want to accept that and that could be a downside to my summary. And I am absolutely thrilled to go deeper into this thought-provoking. So, fasten your seatbelts because we're about to embark on an exhilarating journey that will explore the trials, tribulations, anxieties, and discomforts that inevitably accompany the noble art of writing. Lamont dauntlessly challenges the common misconception that highly skilled writers effortlessly churn out impeccable drafts, aiming to obliterate this illusory belief and inspire us
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Moreover, I am profoundly grateful for Lamont's steadfast determination to debunk the myth that writing is a linear, step-by-step endeavor. With unyielding resolve, she reveals the truth that the path of a writer more closely resembles a wild rollercoaster ride, characterized by continuous cycles of revisiting, refining, and reshaping our words. Lamont's unwavering emphasis on the tremendous significance of revising and rewriting serves as a poignant reminder of the unwavering dedication and unwavering commitment required to elevate our writing to new heights. In conclusion, Anne Lamont's remarkable essay, "Shitty First Drafts," bestows upon us a wealth of wisdom, invaluable guidance, and unparalleled insights. Her unwavering call to embrace the inherent messiness and imperfections of our initial drafts, coupled with her relatable anecdotes and personal experiences, alleviate the overwhelming nature of the writing process. It is with the utmost sincerity and heartfelt appreciation that I wholeheartedly endorse Lamont's philosophy, urging writers to fearlessly embrace the beauty of imperfection and celebrate the arduous yet rewarding journey of self-expression, rather than becoming fixated on the elusive pursuit of an
In Anne Lamott's "Shitty First Drafts," the author writes that in order to write something of good quality one must write a first draft that will never be a work of perfection. Lamott further states that there is no instance of a mainstream or notable writer that sits down and writes a piece of perfected, written work on the first attempt. Lamott also explains the writing process of emotional doubt, draft sequencing, and the effort that is put into a quality piece of written work. Lamott emphasizes the fact that in order to find overlooked or obscured details a writer must muddle through countless body paragraphs, often irrelevant information or thoughts about a particular idea, to find the “real” direction of a written work.
Anne Lamott’s writing process in “Shitty First Drafts” is messy. She initially writes down everything that she is thinking, and then she goes back and refines what she wrote. Lamott has writer's block because she panics about how good her writing is going to be. She resolves this by taking a break, sitting back down, and word vomiting onto her paper. Lamott later goes back to her draft, elaborates on good ideas in her writing, and then crosses out everything else.
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,
In Lamott’s writing, she animates her ideas of writing raft drafts to the readers. Lamott delivers her message very creatively by using various descriptive and poetic phrases, making her piece entertaining and impressing. She frankly talks about her struggles as a writer in order to encourage the readers to feel comfortable making their first attempts. However, because of her language style in the article, her argument becomes vague. From the reader’s point of view, the intention of this article seems to be a ‘writing guide for beginners’ rather than an argumentative essay because her writing lacks evidence and credibility.
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).
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
In “The Inspired Writer vs. The Real Writer,” Sarah Allen
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.
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
Response to Shitty First Drafts Lamott’s “Shitty First Drafts” was non the less brilliant. I could not agree more that in order form a master piece, there needs to be a process. Just like anything else, the first time you do an activity or task, it isn’t going to be perfect, there will be some good that comes from the first time you do it, but there also is a lot of room for improvement. Lamott is an extremely successful writer and is very realistic in explaining her opinion on first drafts.
For example, she expresses writing as a system that is "bird by bird," where writers must focus on one part of their work at a time. She remembers this metaphor from when her father helped her brother write a term paper when they were children. This metaphor not only encapsulates how difficult the writing process can be at times but serves as a descriptive example that her audience can easily imagine and relate to considering that many writers face similar challenges. Lamott tries to convey the idea that writing can be used as a valuable tool for introspection and personal growth. She aims to motivate and encourage others to embrace the creative process of writing and apply it to their own life.
Baron claims that, “...not everyone should write because not everyone has something to say”(Baron 707). Not everyone’s material is worth to reading so why create pieces that will be neglected to readers. If profound literature is created, readers will gain excitement and therefore writers will also gain success. When writing is overdone, the meaning of literature and its logic minimizes. Baron’s purpose is to clear up the issue of why not everyone should write and the public can easily gain an insight into why
Tawney Nodland – As I look back over the past semester of English Composition, I realize that I have grown as a writer. Not onlyhas my understanding of the writing process changed, my whole attitude towards composition has too. This composition course has made a significant impact on my learning experience and has given me tools to take forward into my future educational and professional goals. Throughout this course, I have discovered things about myself as a writer and know some of my strengths and weaknesses. I now feel more prepared for future writing assignments, whether for work or for school.
I am now able to see the areas in which I lack in but I also recognize my strengths as well. To become a precise writer, you have to take the initiatives that will help you do so. These initiatives consist of working on different academic genres, planning and organizing material, identifying purpose and audience and for revising intentionally. It is also includes reading different types of texts and learning how to understand a writer’s argument and respond to the ideas of others.
I continued to type; I added in unnecessary symbolism and metaphors to give the illusion of a well-written paper. I was making good time, I had almost a page and a half done already, but suddenly I stopped writing. “ What next?” I had a case of writer's block, and it was bad.