Writing Your First Draft:

Different people like to start the writing process in different ways.  Some people like to just dive in and start writing.  You can work out what you want to say, or what you think about things by seeing where your words take you.  If you feel like this, don’t let us hold you up!  Get going!

Other people like do some “pre-writing” or preparation. You can brainstorm on your own or with a friend, jotting down ideas and words as they come to you.  Maybe you want to re-read someone else’s life story that you found particularly moving or gripping, to see how that person told their story.  And sometimes it can be helpful to organize your thinking a bit, and note down or talk through the order in which you want to tell your story.  Don’t spend too long on this stage, though – the important thing is to write your first draft, focusing on getting your thoughts down on paper.  You should write freely, without worrying about quantity, quality, grammar, or punctuation; all of which comes later in the process.  If, for whatever reason, you’re having a hard time getting those words down on paper, we can help: you can either visit a drop-in center or come to a writing workshop to receive one-on-one support.