first draft

is like groping one's way into a pitch dark room, or overhearing a faint conversation, or telling a joke whose punchline you've forgotten.

Writing a first draft is like groping one's way into a pitch dark room, or overhearing a faint conversation, or telling a joke whose punchline you've forgotten

is like trying to build a house in a strong wind.

Writing a first draft is like trying to build a house in a strong wind.

 often sounds as if a chicken had written it.

Elizabeth Hardwick told me once that all her first drafts sounded as if a chicken had written them. So do mine for the most part.

is like pushing a peanut with your nose across a very dirty floor.

Getting the first draft finished is like pushing a peanut with your nose across a very dirty floor.

is having a floor under one's feet that one can walk on.

When I have a first draft, I have a floor under my feet that I can walk on. And then, especially with the help of the computer, rewriting is so easy to do with the computer, much easier than it used to be with the typewriter. So the books go through numerous drafts.

is always bad --- he who doesn't make a bad start never makes a good one,

He who doesn't make a bad start never makes a good one,

is always bad --- The first litter of puppies had better be drowned.

The first litter of puppies had better be drowned. ,

first draft, n.All

first draft