Late to the Party

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Late to the Party
Writing what you don't know, part 2
Only ugly first drafts

Writing what you don't know, part 2

Writing yourself into the unknown

Sanjena Sathian's avatar
Sanjena Sathian
Jan 15, 2025
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Late to the Party
Late to the Party
Writing what you don't know, part 2
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Last month’s “Only Ugly First Drafts” writing prompt was about how to write what you don’t know — specifically, how to generate a scene drawing on something that is new to you.

“Only Ugly First Drafts,” one section of Late to the Party, offers monthly writing prompts and craft musings. If you’d like full access to these dispatches, you can become a paid subscriber.

This month, I’m offering a follow-up: how to braid the known back into the unknown, and how to incorporate emotional urgency and interiority into scene.

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