vomit draft

n. the first rough version of a piece of writing. Subjects: English, Arts & Literature, Slang

Editorial Note: So-called because the words pour onto the page unhindered and unrefined.

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Citations: 1990 Roger Cohen New York TImes (Aug. 14) “Books of The Times; A Man’s Fight for the Rain Forest”: In one of countless references to himself, he describes how he wrote a 714-page “vomit draft” of the book in the last three months of last year. Even at half that length in its final form, the book is a trifle emetic. 1996 [Randy Witlicki] Usenet: misc.writing.screenplays (Sept. 17) “Re: Help! I Can’t Get Started!!”: Vomit Draft, Junk Writing Tango, etc. There’s lots of names for what you have to do: Write FAST and don’t look back. 2002 Ved Mehta All For Love (Oct.) p. 68: Later, reading her typed notes, I was embarrassed that I had subjected her to what I thought of as a “vomit draft,” from which I hoped to build a narrative one day. 2006 Lois Corcoran Daily Press (Escanaba, Michigan) (Oct. 26) “A novel idea”: And you can join them—even if your grammar grates and your spelling stinks. Your only goal is to finish what’s fondly called the “vomit draft.” Be assured that much of your novel will reek. But just as a slimy oyster shelters a shimmering pearl, so your story will harbor its own gem.

Posted 1 Nov 06 | Permalink | Tell a Friend