I’m revising Shay and Jeffrey’s story, and I’m also working on the first draft for a new story. I’ve been writing this one in a notebook whenever I have a chance to work on it; then, I transfer it to computer. This is pretty much a first for me. I often jot down notes in a notebook, but this is the first time I’m using one to compose the story. The thing is, I’m so used to the revising mode that I hear that voice when I type this first draft.

It’s not helpful.

When I’m in first-draft mode, I just want to get the story down. Scenes come to me as I write, and I keep writing until the scene ends or I get stuck. Then I move on to the next one. It’s a bit like I’m outside in the rain trying to catch as much water as I can. Catching it and bringing it inside is the key at this stage. Not concerns about whether I’ll use this water to irrigate my lawn, water my plants, make ice cubes, etc. What I do with the water is a task for another day. Likewise, I must hold off on the story analysis until the first draft is complete.

For now, I’m catching all the words I can. That’s what I do when I write a first draft.