✍️ Why You Should Try Zero Draft Writing
or, A Sure-fire, Money-back-guaranteed Way to Get Your Creativity Flowing
Care to be my therapist for a moment?
I feel like I’m not connecting with people sometimes on these writing concepts I keep espousing. It’s frustrating – I feel like I have useful advice to solve some specific problems, but I don’t see writers following through on it necessarily. I simultaneously feel like I’m covering old ground AND not emphasizing these concepts enough.
To be clear, I’m blaming myself for this, not writers. It’s apparent that I’m not making a compelling enough case.
And also to be clear, I don’t pretend to have “the answer” or a silver bullet for all that ails you writing-wise. Likewise, I know that every idea won’t necessarily work for every writer. But if someone says to me, “I have trouble coming up with ideas,” or “I find it hard to sit down and start writing,” I’ll say – “Please, try Zero Draft Writing! Please, please, please, please, pleeeeeease!”
Okay. That’s hyperbole. But maybe the clue is in the hype – maybe I need to beg to get people to try it!
The reason I’m so in love with Zero Draft Writing is that it cures much that ails you:
Blank page – start filling it with garbage poetry or a grocery list or a recap of the game last night, and see what direction it takes you.
Fear – if you’re focused on throwing down words, there isn’t any time for fear.
Idea generation – if you have a germ of an idea but you don’t know where to go with it, writing it down helps. We write in order to learn what we want to write.
Lack of productivity – They may not be “great” words and they may not be “final” words. But filling a page while Zero Draft Writing gives you a sense of accomplishment. Plus, I guarantee you’ll find a nugget of something if you keep at it. (And likely several nuggets.)
Motivation – Ever try pumping water from a well by hand? Those first couple of cranks are near-impossible. Then, it’s very hard. But eventually, the water starts flowing. Zero Draft Writing helps you get through those first few pumps to get your creativity moving. It soon becomes fun!
Confused thoughts – I get stuck all the time wondering if I should turn left or right with my characters. Zero Draft Writing helps me do both so I can decide which one works best.
Imposter Syndrome – Sometimes we’re stopped in our tracks before we even start because we’re comparing ourselves to another writer. It’s literally debilitating. Zero Draft Writing can help in a similar way to fear: if you’re too busy writing, you’re too busy to think about the things that might normally stop you.
Zero Draft Writing greases the wheels, primes the pump, sparks creativity, drives ideas, and helps you made headway – all at the same time! It works if you’re stuck or unsure of what to say or unsure of how to say what you want to say. It works whether you believe in it or not because your creativity can’t help but kick in.
The only things it takes are:
Your favourite writing platform from notebook to Word to Scrivener
The willingness to let go, put down any old words, and let the process drive your creativity rather than the other way around
It even works when you’re not stuck! I use it regularly in my fiction and my day-job writing.
So please, when you have a moment, just try it. Set aside some time just to experiment. Even if you keep none of it. Please.
Please, please, please, please, pleeeeeease!
Over to You
Have you tried Zero Draft Writing? If not, are you willing to give it a try? Either way, please let us know in the comments below! I’d really appreciate it: social proof – i.e., knowing that other writers have tried it – helps get others to try it, too.
Until next time, keep writing with wild abandon!
~Graham
email me if you get lost.