How to start a book? Write drunk, edit sober.
I’ve just started a book. As in, writing one. I’m not quite sure how this came about. But as with most thing in my life, they’ve happened while I’ve been doing other things (I’d never even read Cosmopolitan before I became editor of it). Anyway, contracts are signed. I’m off.
How do you start writing a book? If you’re not writing a book, you might ask, how do you start a big project with multiple layers of complexity and emotion involved? I’ve been seeking an answer for a few months. There’s some common thinking out there, in case you’re wondering. Principally: don’t worrying about the perfect start; just… starting. Vomit forth ideas. Let them unfurl in a mess. Be messy with it. Be loose. Use butchers paper. Get fired up. Creative. No holds barred. Have no structure, no semblance of order.
But don’t edit.
Finish spewing forth. And then edit and organise and structure. Ernst Hemingway wrote: “write drunk, edit sober”. I’d say, “get messy and manic. then sift and structure.”
When I had tea with Edward de Bono, he said much the same. He’s written 80+ books which makes him an authority. He told me he puts everything down on scraps of paper, randomly, with no set idea of where it’s going to head. Then he looks for themes and creates chapter headings from there. Then he goes back and assembles the notes under the chapter heads and makes a few adjustments. Then done.
When I write my columns, this is how I do it: I swirl ideas in my head for a bit, usually in the shower or while I’m riding my bike. When I have my theme I get messy. I read, scroll, scribble on a foolscap notebook and make calls for most of the day. I angst. A lot. My writing mentor once said that when you stop angsting about your writing, you stop being a good writer. Then, as the sun starts to set, I “draw” my article. With a nice pen I nut out the structure with circles and arrows, half of it in shorthand, and with pictures. When I’m done I can “see” the whole column and know that it’s structurally sound. I then write on my computer. Often the ending is different. I let it emerge.
This works for me.
But, a book. It’s a bigger prospect. I don’t think I can draw it in a sheet of foolscap. So I’m sitting in New York Public Library and hoping I can get drunk and messy today.
I hope you appreciate the fact that you a living my dream life!
Writing a book in the New York Public Library is what I’m going to do.
I’m working to reach that goal right this moment.
In the meantime, I enjoy reading about your experience!
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Sarah, I raise my glass (or cup of tea, actually) to you – may it all get very drunk and messy and divinely creative for you!
Really appreciated this post. I’m starting to bring some ideas together that might end up in a book, too… and finding it a VERY messy adventure so far.
Something I’ve learned from counselling, which may also help with writing, is to “trust the process”. To just trust that something meaningful will emerge from all the threads if you stay with it.
And, strangely, when I’m writing blog posts, i find that graffitti also inspires me a lot – somehow it often ‘says’ something that starts me thinking…
Anyway, thanks so much for sharing YOUR process. I’m already looking forward to reading what it brings…
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Great post Sarah. You are funny & inspiring.
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Great post. I am trying to write one at the moment, but still with a view to trying to find publishers & contracts etc & this makes soooo much sense… or is it just the NYC Public Library part that I have to admit to being exceedingly jealous of.
Looking forward to your updates.
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Sounds like a fun process. I like the idea of having no rules for the initial draft. Another similar concept I read recently is to jot down all your ideas in index cards. Always keep some with you. Then at some point you lay then all out on the floor and gradually make order.
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Sarah – thanks for sharing the first steps of this particular journey. Sounds like you have a good process that works for you. I reckon it’s great that you’re able to write anywhere. Be interesting in writing the memoir whether anything changes re: structure, routine, setting, etc. I read recently Truman Capote said he did his best work in motel rooms; maybe you’ll be living out of libraries from now on.
Stephen King and a lot other authors I’ve read about favour the 1st draft (the “All-Story-Draft” to quote King) should be written with no help from anyone else and no editing. Get the story or stories down, give them life, then introduce light & shade via the editing process.
Looking forward to the next edition.
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Thank you Sarah. This really helped. I’ve been trying to start my book, but I would type a few sentences and erase them because I thought they weren’t any good. This relieved me of my perfectionism, so thank you! I’d love to read more about your book-writing process.
Ciao!
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SO looking forward to reading your book – your ‘Sunday Life’ column is my favourite part of the weekend papers.
Enjoy New York!
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i love you but not in a stalker kind of way.
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Thanks for ‘write drunk, edit sober’ Sarah – love it. Should have tackled the book dream that way a few years ago. These days, with two tiny kids, it’s much harder to be irresponsible, dammit! Shall have to go with your version – I like ‘sift and structure.’ Good luck with the book- I’m sure it will be a great read.
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Love the “trust the process” suggestion from Gabrielle – trust that something meaningful will emerge from all the threads if you stay with it. That one’s going on my (actual not proverbial) whiteboard.
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