"Well so what, Mr. Poopy Pants?"
Sometimes we all feel discouraged about our writing because of the first stages of our work but the, somewhat comical, writings of Anne Lamott brought up the stress relieving fact that all beautiful writing doesn't start off beautiful. I remember all the times I thought about having a journal and when I went to write stuff, it was a scary sight, so I just gave up. "Shitty First Drafts" explains that sometimes well written pieces of writing come from shitty beginnings and even well accomplished writers, such as herself, experience this.
We can all relate to putting words on paper and hating every word that gets put down, but that's when we take a minute to find the one-thing that isn't so bad and you go from there. I understand, upon getting a writing assignment the only thing you want is to get it done, I've been there but Lamott stresses that the first draft is just a time where you let it all flow out: the good, the bad, the ugly, all come together and is definitely not worthy of turning in. Although shitty there might be something in there that will spark an idea for the rest of the novel, essay, or short story. Rereading, reflecting, and rewriting the first draft will help you to write elegant essays that are more than likely going to get you an A.
I, personally, took from this reading, that the first draft is what it is: just a first draft. I HATE rereading what I wrote, none the less rewriting it, but without brainstorming and a horrendous first draft you might miss out on what could become something spectacular. I now realize that a "shitty first draft" is almost crucial in creating well written essays and narratives.