Comments on: 3 Reasons Writing A Rough Draft Is The First Step

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:50:22 +0000

I realize this article was posted over a year ago, but I just wanted to say that I found it to be a useful reminder. I’m the type of writer who feels that she needs to get it right the first time; as such, I spend a great deal of time staring at a blank screen as I attempt to formulate my thoughts into written form, repeatedly cursing my “writer’s block.” I’ve noticed that, when I force myself to jot down all of those thoughts, however hideous and disjointed they may be, that I can write effortlessly and that going back and cleaning up my rough draft is much easier and less stressful than pressuring myself to be articulate the first time around.

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Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:08:46 +0000

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By: Anne

Anne — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:40:42 +0000

Good example that editing is important, Frank, but I would also point out that there would be nothing to edit if a draft isn’t written.

By: Frank

Frank — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:33:43 +0000

Huh. Well… while I agree to some degree about the draft idea, the following quote from your article stands out to me as an example of why editing is much more important than drafting…

“This post occurred because I suddenly wondered, what at the grocery store, if my instructions to “write” was understood as a command or suggestion to draft something onto paper as the only way I know to get started.”

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:06:07 +0000

As I pushed the submit button I realized Sax may very well have had a male secretary, something I’ve always wanted.

Back then and before typing was considered too strenuous for women… hah!

I certainly hope my perceptions have changed over time… gadzooks… I was once a Republican! Still might try a peak at Rhomer again

By: jorgekafkazar

jorgekafkazar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:50:15 +0000

Our perceptions change over time, Anne. I loved A E VanVogt’s “World of ?” when I was in junior high school. I remembered it as intricate, exciting, magical. I reread it about 15 years ago and it had lost all the magic–or I had.

I don’t recall whether the person who transcribed Rohmer’s cylinders was male or female. Either is possible in that era. Here’s a quote from one of his books:

“The library door opening, and Adeler, his private secretary, appearing, with a book under his arm, Mr. Rohscheimer called to him…”

I was a department secretary for a while when I was in college. It was a wonderful experience. Wish I’d started when I was a freshman. A great place to study and I made Christmas money, too. Not a lot of work, either, except at exam time.
.-= jorgekafkazar´s last blog ..Tenirax, Ch V =-.

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:58:35 +0000

Sax Rhomer – Fu Manchu – a bad pun all in one comment? What’s a blogger to do?

I loved that series… wonder if I still would… maybe.

and see… back then it was done by secretary… a women secretary I’ll bet.

By: jorgekafkazar

jorgekafkazar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:13:57 +0000

In the 1920's, Sax Rohmer, author of the Fu Manchu* series, believed in getting as much on paper as quickly as possible. To do this, he used to dictate his narrative onto wax cylinders. The cylinders were sent by post to London, where a secretary turned them into typewritten manuscript for Rohmer's revisions and edits. Rohmer got quite good at this. It's a skill that many of us could use productively, especially with modern voice-to-text software, which would save the transcription step. * My father often used to say: "Confucius say, 'Many man smoke, but Few Man Chew'." (Okay, it was a lot funnier in 1921.) .-= jorgekafkazar´s last blog ..Tenirax, Ch V =-.

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Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:22:17 +0000