A Drafts List Is a Waste Of Time

Because I prefer to write in the moment.

Photo by Damir Spanic on Unsplash

NOW, I KNOW THIS DOESN’T APPLY TO EVERYONE and there may even be some writers who disagree, but I find a drafts list to be a waste of time.

At the moment I have 128 drafts sitting idle on my list (not including this piece) and I’m 99% sure I won’t be expanding on any one of them. Because when I write, I prefer to do so in the moment.

I prefer to sit down in front of a crisp blank page, write my title idea (which usually gets revised) then just go for it. Freestyle. Off the cusp. Spontaneous. Unrehearsed.

I like my thoughts and feelings and emotions to flow straight from my mind on to the page without hesitation. No filter. No overthinking. No stalling. Any discrepancies can be ironed out during the editing process when it comes to making my reflections coherent.

But when I pre-plan an article and layout the piece beforehand, it seems to take even longer to complete. The words feel forced at times. The ideas fabricated. And my writing voice differs from my speaking voice. I prefer them to be somewhat similar to bring an air of authenticity to my work.

So, while I haven’t yet been brave enough to delete everything from my drafts list — just in case — and no doubt I will continue to use it to jot down ideas for the foreseeable future — though never use them — I do still believe that for people like me a drafts list is a waste of time as the joy of writing in the moment, allowing my words to feel natural and free, far outweighs a pre-planned piece each and every time.

What are your thoughts on drafts lists and do you feel they benefit you during your writing process? Please share your comments below.

Thanks for reading.