Her Stories Writing Workshop – Week Two

So, when you’re writing and think you’ve saved it—but it doesn’t actually save—do you try to redo it or just get angry?

ANGRY, JENNY.

The key to narrative writing is showing growth and change and transformation.

• I wanted (blank) but (blank.)
• I wanted my dad to live, but not hooked up to a machine.

The simplest way to structure your essay is this:

1. Begin with a moment (a vivid, descriptive scene)
2. Describe a conflict (give backstory about this internal/external struggle)
3. End with a realization or epiphany and why this realization matters

WRITE OPENING SCENE

• “Get it all down. Let it pour out of you and onto the page. Write an incredibly shitty, self-indulgent, whiny, mewling first draft. Then take out as many of the excesses as you can.” — Anne Lamott
• “The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.”  ―Terry Pratchett
• “Every first draft is perfect because all the first draft has to do is exist. It’s perfect in its existence. The only way it could be imperfect would be to NOT exist.” ― Jane Smiley

Write first draft – just write. GO.