Often, I hear students complain about not being happy with their work. Trying to make sure everything is right—dare I say, perfect—when they sit down to write a story, they find themselves frazzled and very disappointed. Sound familiar?

I’m not sure why it’s so hard to explain to new (and not so new) writers that a first draft isn’t meant to be publishable. It’s not supposed to be perfect. That’s not it’s job.

Think of a first draft as a type of narrative outline. (No. Not the dreaded I, II, A, 1, B, III kind.) It’s where you’re getting your ideas for your story down on paper or screen, as in first this, then this will happen. And then this will muck it all up.

Put your ideas down. Don’t worry about the story just yet. Think continuum of events and consequences—What if? And then… But…

Mostly, have fun with it. It’s the best opportunity you have in the evolution of a story to let go and let it rip.

When we were kids, a friend of mine and I used to lie on our backs on the grass and look up at the sky, and play our story game. I don’t know why, but not looking at each other, looking at the sky made a difference. It unleashed something. We’d invent wild and huge scenarios where we’d get our hero into such trouble, then figure out wild and huge scenarios to get him out. Our imaginations soared. It was fun.

Ready for a first draft? Good. Don’t worry about your story right now. Just let go and have silly, wild, and huge fun.

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