I recently started writing a new manuscript. As I face each writing day, I also find myself tackling a very pesky issue: unrealistic expectations.

For some reason, when I sit down to write, I think I should be able to nail down all of these things in my first draft:

specific information about a character (personality, speech, clothing, hobbies, etc.)

exactly what my clues and red herrings will be and where I’m going to plant them (I’m writing in the mystery genre)

descriptions

how the characters relate to each other

stellar word choices

phenomenal sentences

light tone and writing (ex., no gore or violence) (important for cozy mysteries)

fast writing

How can I possibly expect myself to meet all these criteria in my first draft?

Perhaps it’s because of the romantic (and incorrect) notion that when writers sit down to write, the words pour out effortlessly and perfectly the first time through. Or maybe I focus on the books that other writers publish and erroneously believe that my first draft should be as good as their books. But I’m not being fair with myself. I’m comparing my first draft to published books that have likely gone through multiple revisions by the author, agent, and publishing house.

I understand that this kind of thinking is not helpful. In fact, it’s counterproductive. It can actually zap my creativity and kill my motivation to become a better writer. That’s why I’ve decided to change my thinking to be more realistic.

From now on, I will do my best to view first drafts – especially first drafts in a mystery series – as a way to:

get the story down in whatever shape possible

learn about the characters: who they are, what they want, and why they do what they do

become familiar with the setting

come up with clues and red herrings and maybe even have a general idea where to plant them

have fun!

Later drafts are for ensuring consistency among the characters, conveying a strong sense of place, jazzing up the dialogue, making sure the mystery, clues, and red herrings make sense, and polishing the writing.

As a fellow writer commented in another blog, writing a solid and polished first draft is like trying to give birth to a fully grown adult. Doesn’t that sound painful, unrealistic, and unnecessary? To me, this doesn’t sound fun at all. And fun is something that I want writing to be.

What about you – do you have unrealistic expectations when you write your first draft? How do you cope with them?