Small Progress is Progress
April 29, 2019: “The most exciting thing that happened today was I started writing again! Not like that other attempt last year, but really writing. I’ve been thinking about it all day. Already have 6 ½ pages!”
Almost a year ago, I began the journey of writing my novel.
I wrote 2 sections of my book that weekend. The words came hard and fast. Excitement coursed through my veins as page after page came and went. The spark I thought had extinguished long ago was reignited, and even a year later I can vividly picture that first real writing session.
It’s an incredible feeling to tell people I’m writing a book knowing that it’s real.
Since then, I have written an additional 85 pages and the inspiration is still strong.
It’s an incredible feeling to tell people I’m writing a book knowing that it’s real. It might still be a draft, and it’s completely different from anything I ever thought I’d write, but it’s mine. And one day not too long from now when it’s done and ready to publish, I will see my name on the front of a real novel.
Knowing this incredible blessing I have for inspired words, it’s interesting to me the comments I hear from other experienced writers - many of whom are published.
I hear a lot of “the first draft always sucks” and “just get it onto the paper and then fix it.”
While I value the fact that these kinds of comments encourage drafting, I find that almost anything I read about writing a first draft is very focused on how bad it will be and the other potential negatives.
My first question when I see these comments is always Why? Why are we telling new writers and writers who are just returning to the fold that their hard work, sweat, and many times tears is going to be awful the first go-round, almost without exception?
My second question is What’s the goal? Because if it’s a claim of being realistic, there are other ways of telling someone their writing needs work.
If the goal is to “harden” writers or get them ready for criticism, then it would be more helpful to actually give feedback on a piece of writing rather than outright discouragement. While it’s true that not everyone will like a piece of writing, there’s almost always an audience available that will. Part of the hard work of writing is the process of finding & marketing it.
My last question is What is the expected reaction? If we’re telling new or discouraged writers that no matter how hard they work their draft will suck or need to be completely “fixed,” why would we think that they would continue to ask for guidance? Or even continue to write at all?
In the end, progress is progress, no matter how small it is.
I’m not, by any means, saying that anyone’s drafts are perfect. We’re all human, and so we sometimes spell things wrong or word a sentence awkwardly. Hell, sometimes we start a paragraph talking about one thing and get to the end and find out it’s completely different from the beginning. That’s part of the writing process.
Drafting is CRITICAL.
But in the end, progress is progress, no matter how small it is.
The small progress matters because:
When we write, we have the capability to bring entire worlds to life and illuminate aspects of the human experience we don’t really think about in our everyday lives. We use words to create incredible experiences from nothing. We sometimes stare at a blank piece of paper (or computer document) for what feels like a lifetime to bring our imaginative thought to life.
The fact of the matter is that the same blank piece of paper was staring every accomplished author in the face before they created their masterpieces, too.
Writing is not always about being able to crank out X number of words or pages a day, especially not in the beginning. It’s about learning the process that best works for you and writing the dang story!
It’s one thing for a seasoned professional who makes a full-time living to expect or create hard and fast time to write 2,000 words a day, but that’s probably not reasonable for a new writer. Does this mean the new writer is less talented or less worthy of guidance? Absolutely not!
The seasoned professional started off as a beginner and worked hard to hone their craft. The ability to be able to write 2,000 words a day didn’t happen overnight, and certainly the requisite knowledge of what to do with those words didn’t either.
Progress is a sign of growth. The biggest, most important thing that any of us can accomplish is growth. We need it to be better people, and better writers.
We can’t expect to make life-altering growth every day - that would be exhausting and unsustainable!
But, we can work diligently and see small progress on our goals and projects every day. It’s in this progress that we see the most growth. By the time you’ve done a month of diligent daily, or even weekly, work, you can definitely see the fruits of your labor. Your small progress seems a little bigger than you thought before.
The biggest, most important thing that any of us can accomplish is growth.
As a college English teacher, I plan and promote small progress in all my classes. I am a huge proponent of drafting and hard work on making writing better. I tell my students the same things that I believe myself:
Drafting is CRITICAL.
We NEED feedback.
Writing is a SKILL, not a talent.
Your story and voice is IMPORTANT.
We all start SOMEWHERE and usually that’s not our best work.
As new writers, my students need the information and nurturing I give them in order to ingrain these concepts into their writing process ideology.
Outside the classroom, there is an absolute need for experienced writers to mentor beginners or those who might be lacking in confidence.
There is an absolute need for experienced writers to mentor beginners or those who might be lacking in confidence.
But we can’t expect to be successful mentors if the first contact is negative and focused on how bad the starting point might be.
Does it matter if a first draft is awful?
Yes, it does. However, it matters more that the writer can get constructive feedback and learn how to improve than for someone they’ve entrusted their writing to to say “These are all the things you have to fix” with no consideration of what’s working well.
When in doubt, use a compliment sandwich:
Compliment (Positive comment)
Constructive feedback
Compliment (Positive comment)
Although this method sounds corny, it really works! Many teachers - myself included - use it for student feedback. It gives structure to comments while also delivering some much needed (sometimes a little sensitive) writing feedback.
As I work through my book, the number of people who are interested keeps me inspired. People I’ve written and worked with are excited about what I have to say. It’s truly humbling, and I can’t wait for the finished product so I can share my words with the world.
Small progress is progress.
I may not write every day, but most weeks I write a new section. I have 91 pages now, and that number will only keep growing. My goal is to have a completed draft done this year. I know for a fact that my small progress every week will make that happen.
Because small progress is progress.
How do you make progress? How do you measure how you’re achieving your goals? I’d love to hear about them! Drop a comment below or send me an email at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com.