#oneaday Day 438: Drafts

Talking with fellow writers, it always surprises me how differently different people approach the writing process.

My approach is to sit down, decide something to write about, then write it. And, barring extenuating circumstances, I don't stop until it's done. There are exceptions to this rule, such as writing something longer than can reasonably be done in a single sitting, but for the most part, I sit down, think of something to write about, then write about it.

Sounds pretty simple, right? And yet I know quite a few people who don't write in this way. I know quite a few people who seem to have fragmented thoughts that manifest themselves in the form of half-written posts and drafts that, in some cases, are nothing but a title. Or, in one memorable case, just the word "Mo" with no context or indication of what it might have once been about. I feel like we'll never know, given that said draft dates back to 2016.

This isn't to say anyone is "right" or "wrong", of course; with something inherently creative such as writing it's always best to approach the task in the way you feel most comfortable with. Some people work best when they focus on a single thing at once; others work best with a more scattershot approach, picking at various tasks until each of them, gradually, one by one, get finished.

I just always find it interesting to hear how other people approach things, having always done things the same way for as long as I can remember. Respect to those of you who can have 70+ drafts on the go and not feel a crippling sense of guilt!