Why a Rough Draft is Important

I have never thought of myself as a good writer. Anyone who wants reassurance of that should read one of my first drafts. But I'm one of the world's great rewriters.
~James A. Michener

On the very first day of class, I told everyone that the hardest thing about writing was getting started. At the football game today, I was talking with a student who was telling me how much she dreads writing a paper. This student is a good writer! It's just that getting started seems daunting.

That's where your rough draft comes into play. First, you brainstorm. Sit down at the computer, say a prayer, and then just begin writing about your topic. Suddenly, you have something down! Once you have something down, you can work with it. The greatest writers are the ones who know how to edit themselves. This is part of the craft! It isn't just writing. It is also knowing what to take out, what to leave in, and what to change.

It helps to be passionate or at least enthusiastic about your topic. Believe me, I do not want to read something you wrote that you don't believe in. BORING! If you don't like the topics I give out in class and you want to do something different, run it by me! I will be happy to work with you on something you want to write about.