Analysis Of Anne Lamott's Shitty First Drafts

First Draft Summary In the paper Shitty First Drafts written by Anne Lamott she explains how everyone writes shitty rough drafts even published writers. There is no perfect rough draft. Anne Lamott states, “That is how good writers end up with good second drafts and terrific third drafts” (Lamott 233).

A short nonfiction called Shitty First Drafts by Anne Lamott explains to the reader that whenever you write, in order to have a great paper or book, they need to write a first draft and tells them that the first draft they write will be shitty. Lamott states that not one writer writes an elegant first draft and is a fantasy of what readers expect (Lamott 468). The way she writes this nonfiction, it gives the reader a confidence boost and an idea that nobody can write a perfect paper on the first attempt. Lamott even explains that she would be worried if someone would read her first draft of her writings because of how shitty they are (Lamott 470). She reassures that all good writing begins with a terrible first effort and that there will be

Many may believe that reading a book about religion would be challenging to accomplish for someone who is not religious. But those people have never read Anne Lamott’s, Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith. If one were to ask non-religious college students to read a book by a random author about spirituality and “Finding God” through conversion, they would most likely roll their eyes and bear through it. In Lamott’s series of essays, one does not have to “suffer through the readings” because her writing style is one of a kind. She has strategically chosen every word because she is aware of how important her spiritual experiences are to so many people, religious or not.

The article by Donald Murray entitled, “The Maker’s Eye: Revising Your Own Manuscripts” provides readers a better understanding of the writing process and argues that writers learn to write, by writing and rewriting. Murray also contends that writers must learn to be their own best enemy. Well, I believe I have this trait covered! I will confess, that I purposely saved this course for last, due to the number of years between my last structured learning experience and returning to school to complete a BSN degree.

Her use of imagery paints a picture for the readers which ultimately helps to make learning the writing process easier. For example, when she says “the critics would be sitting on my shoulders, commenting like cartoon characters”, this creates a humorous and memorable image of shoulder sized critics (Lamott 469). This step in the process is unusual from what other authors say, yet it’s interesting which engages the reader. Lamott also uses similes and metaphors throughout the essay to explain what it is like for most struggling writers. She states “we all often feel like we are pulling teeth” when it comes to constructing and composing a piece of work (Lamott 468).

So what is a notebook, according to Joan Didion? For the majority of her essay, Didion seems to be beating around the bush about what her point actually is, as to some degree maybe even evading her own topic. She depicts many different entries incorporated in her own notebook, introduces the idea of what a notebook is not, yet never bring closure to this subject, and even goes to the extent of questioning herself about her notebook and answering herself. Nonetheless, Didion answers the main idea with small fragments throughout the essay and answers the question she has for the reader. As mentioned before, Didion does not use or have a notebook for literary publication, but for her own self, to remind herself of what she thought and how she

In the article “Shitty First Drafts” by Anne Lemott she discusses how every writer has difficulty putting their ideas on paper because writing should be seen as a process that even the best and famous writers follow. She also talks about how even the best writers don’t just come with ideas and just begin writing on paper and make it as their final draft. Lemott also points out the importance of being able to just write down every thought into the first draft regardless of the structure of the draft and how it makes it easier to start the second draft. After writing the second draft it makes the final draft a review of punctuation and grammar corrections. As a food reviewer she struggled putting her ideas together because she would start doubting

Response to Shitty First Drafts Lamott’s “Shitty First Drafts” was non the less brilliant. I could not agree more that in order form a master piece, there needs to be a process. Just like anything else, the first time you do an activity or task, it isn’t going to be perfect, there will be some good that comes from the first time you do it, but there also is a lot of room for improvement. Lamott is an extremely successful writer and is very realistic in explaining her opinion on first drafts.

“It’s time to start telling the truth, little brother. Do you understand what I’m saying?”(269). The truth, something that takes many people to reveal in a person. In the story Tangerine, by: Edward Bloor, The truth takes a family and set of friends to help Erik Fisher, Arthur Bauer, and Paul Fisher to reveal the truth about themselves and each other, like shapes. Shapes reveal each other’s flaws and imperfections.

Lucille Parkinson McCarthy, author of the article, “A Stranger in Strange Lands: A College Student Writing Across the Curriculum”, conducted an experiment that followed one student over a twenty-one month period, through three separate college classes to record his behavioral changes in response to each of the class’s differences in their writing expectations. The purpose was to provide both student and professor a better understanding of the difficulties a student faces while adjusting to the different social and academic settings of each class. McCarthy chose to enter her study without any sort of hypothesis, therefore allowing herself an opportunity to better understand how each writing assignment related to the class specifically and “what

Through the long and impactful novel Lyddie, by Katherine Paterson, a 13-year-old girl was forced to leave her family and beloved home that she loves. Due to her distant mother 's decision to sell her off to a mill because of problems with money. Also, for the actions of her husband who left the family in search of good mines. A troubling family goes through many setbacks to hopefully unite the once full family the Lyddie once had. Lyddie should sign the petition because she works long hours with little pay under the watchful eye of the overseer who could be classified as a child molester.

Molding of the Perfect Woman: An Analysis of Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl” “…on Sundays try to walk like a lady and not like the slut you are so bent on becoming…” (Kincaid, 320). This phrase accurately represents the point that is being made in this passage. In Jamaica Kincaid’s piece, “Girl”, her mother is giving her advice on how to be and act like a proper woman. Her mother describes everything from how to properly do laundry to how to set a table for all occasions (Kincaid, 3-4).

I am now able to see the areas in which I lack in but I also recognize my strengths as well. To become a precise writer, you have to take the initiatives that will help you do so. These initiatives consist of working on different academic genres, planning and organizing material, identifying purpose and audience and for revising intentionally. It is also includes reading different types of texts and learning how to understand a writer’s argument and respond to the ideas of others.

The only woman in the world who will still cradle you in her arms even if you've stabbed her loving heart is your mother. The short story “Teenage Wasteland” by Anne Tyler is about guilt and reveals mother’s feelings towards her children. A loving mother will feel guilty for anything that happens to her children, and even for that how they feel. Mothers is the person who cares the most about her child. The story “Teenage Wasteland” tells about a common situation many families experience: a misunderstood child creates problems to his parents, not by fault, but because he feels unwanted.

I continued to type; I added in unnecessary symbolism and metaphors to give the illusion of a well-written paper. I was making good time, I had almost a page and a half done already, but suddenly I stopped writing. “ What next?” I had a case of writer's block, and it was bad.