#parents are so mentally unwell that it literally causes damage to us kids

[astronautmike-dexter]

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[heywriters]

"Remember to not be too hard on yourself" and "you will find mistakes" should coexist in your mind when approaching second drafts.

Continuing with the little kid allegory, parents and other adults can watch that messy kid in a variety of scenarios and worry "What if they turn out bad because of this behavior? Do they act this way because they're a brat? Are they mentally unwell? Is it their upbringing?" and literally the kid's just like picking their nose or having a tantrum bc they're tired. In the end, responsible adults around them have the power to shape and improve that behavior.

First drafts can make us stop and think "Is this actually really bad instead of just the normal amount? Will continuing to work with it make it worse? Did I cause irreparable damage to the story from the very beginning?" And then it turns out fine.

So yeah, revisiting a draft can cause a hundred mini crises and much self doubt. But that too is part of the process of making a draft into a finished work. It drives me nuts, but seeing flaws or perceiving ones that aren't there is helpful in building up the story and your creative skill.

Tbh I don't understand this constant slamming of first drafts anymore. Like, yeah, theyre the first coat of paint, but they aren't "shitty." First drafts are the fun part? I love my first drafts. They're like little kids who don't know anything yet, or your dumbest pet who makes you smile. They're so special when they haven't really matured because they're all the fun and emotional bits you cobbled together in bursts of inspiration. They're good kids, just kinda messy and incoherent with occasional awkward statements that you nervously laugh about. That's why we call it a work in progress