Mark Lee on the Benefits of Finishing Your First Draft Before Editing - video

Author and Third Day lead guitarist Mark Lee spent years trying to write that perfect first chapter and struggled to get past this need for perfection. He tried different tactics such as following NaNoWriMo to expedite the writing process but wasn't able to dedicate the time required by the program's schedule. Lee then began to study books in the Young Adult genre for inspiration. Eventually finding a break in his band tour schedule, Lee took that inspiration and challenged himself to keep writing without stopping to edit or perfect the work. He followed a disciplined writing schedule that allowed him to reach his goal in just a few months.The end result was a completed memoir manuscript that needed a lot of TLC, but by finishing the first draft before doing any editing Lee was able to step back and see any holes in the story, areas for improvement, and unifying themes. 

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