In “Shitty First Drafts” by Anne Lamott from Bird by Bird

In “Shitty First Drafts”  by Anne Lamott from Bird by Bird 

1. Lamott says that the perceptions most people have of how writers work is 

different from the reality of the work itself. She refers to this in paragraph 1 as 

“the fantasy of the uninitiated.” What does she mean? 

2. In paragraph 7 Lamott refers to a time when, through experience, she 

“eventually let [herself] trust the process – sort of, more or less.” She is 

referring to the writing process, of course, but why “more or less”? Do you 

think that her wariness is personal, or is she speaking for all writers in this 

regard? Explain. 

3. From what Lamott has to say, is writing a first draft more about the product or 

the process? Do you agree in regard to your own first drafts? Explain.