Drafts and Dreams

Scattered thoughts and a finished story

Hey! What’s the last big project you finished?

I’m happy to say mine is Significatorius.

Well, at least a first rough draft. I’ll still need to go back over everything and re-edit, revise, and re-draft. There are quite a few dangling threads that are tucked into the margins with notes to “fix later.”

Even with the new edit-as-I-go approach, there is a lot that can change over the course of going from a vague outline to actual words on the page.

On Definitions

A lot of people use terminology and specific vocabulary in vague ways to obscure what they’re talking about.

This is a great technique to look smarter — or at least more knowledgeable — than you really are.

Rather than feed my delusions of grandeur, I find it more engaging and productive to build an honest discussion.

For me, that begins with an admission of generalized ignorance.

So, let’s talk about “writing words” and how I use them.

I personally feel like I need to have the full story completed before I’m comfortable using the term “rough draft.”

The full journey usually has these steps:

1. Initial Idea

2. Vague Outline

3. Word Vomit

4. First Rough Draft

5. Second Rough Draft

6. ”Final” Draft

7. Release Version

I start with a vague outline and when I get hooked into a muse, I just keep writing until I reach all the key points I have in mind.

That results in some of the least coherent copy you could probably ever read.

Here’s a quick example from Besnowed:

From there, it’s a cycle of combing through, refining, and testing ideas until I arrive at what I call a “final” draft — though we all know even that is far from really final.

Second Rough Draft

Before I get to that more coherent version, however, I first go back over the raw text and edit it down to a first rough draft. Revising that then results in the second rough draft and that is what I then feel more comfortable sharing with other people.

And that will be the case for Significatorius as well.

Once I’m satisfied, I’ll invite everyone who is interested to read, edit, and comment a very long google doc — and then we’ll see where things go from there.

I’m a little scatterbrained this morning, but to stay in the spirit of drafting and unfinished work, I’ll share a piece of flash fiction that only took shape after writing these very words.

Since I’m still in that Significatorius headspace, it’ll set it in that same world, using that different perspective I’ve only ambiguously revealed thus far.

Hermit Island

I woke up for the third time that night.

Still dark out.

The nightmare never ends.

I came all this way to find an answer only to see my prayers were nothing but wish-filled lies.

Across the strait their life was so simple and so untouched by the endless cold we endured. They saw no need to look to the heavens for protection. They were content with the ground beneath their feet.

A blasphemy in thought.

Heresy in practice.

“You up again?” Jeong-uk was always already awake. From what I saw, he just never slept.

“Yeah.” I answered, hiding the pain in my voice.

“Those nightmares?” He asked.

“I don’t know why I can’t shake them.” I sat up and looked out the tiny window. The water looked just as cold as I remember as we sailed around the edge of the Southern Ocean.

“Rough times stay with us.” He stood up and brought out a bottle of whisky. “Even after the wounds are gone.”

He poured two shots and nodded for me to join him. The seas were gracefully calm, but the boat was still rocking. I stumbled as I got up, dizzy from leaving the dream world. Out of breath from the gasps that woke me up.

I walked over to join my captain for a late night cap. With some luck, we’d drown ourselves in the ocean.

“To finding our blessing.” I spoke up with a toast.

“To that holiday you lot celebrate.” He raised his cup — more tin than glass.

“Which one?” I asked. He was more confused about all our traditions than I was.

“Does it look like I give a damn.” He laughed and the sound echoed out into the wake. His complete disinterest in my entire reason for existing. It was comforting in a way. Less exhausting than seeing my compatriots lack conviction.

He had a good excuse.

He didn’t grow up under the Seven Saints like we did.

He didn’t know Saint Vinson like I did.

We drank a lot that night, swapping stories that became increasingly incredulous. At some point, I was able to finally sleep.

The next morning, Jeong-uk woke up first, of course. I stumbled out of that uncomfortable sleeping cabinet and he was already working on setting up the fishing lines.

“That one over there is Hermit Island.” He pointed out some rock on the horizon. “Is it everything you expected?”

“No.” I answered as I started helping him.

“Yeah.” He laughed into the rough seas. “It’s kind of shit, isn’t it?”

“It looks like the other Hermit Island, that’s for sure.” I nodded and nothing more needed to be said. We had a silent understanding about what that really meant. How I still couldn’t find what I was looking for.

Besides, there was a lot of work left to do.

We were in for another long cold day.

Revision

I’ll let Significatorius sit for a little while before I jump into edits. I find it’s important to remove myself from the story to allow for more self-critical eyes.

And to add another detail, the first rough draft is a little over 60 thousand words. It will likely grow as I run through everything again.

But it’s a very uneven process. I’ll cut a lot of what I don’t want and add what I think is underdeveloped.

It’s hard to say when exactly that second rough draft will be ready to share, but it should be relatively soon.

Until next time.

—JMB