Writing the first-draft of a novel has some parallels with decorating a Xmas tree.
We know what a finished tree should look like but at first all we have is the dark mass of the tree, some boxes of tinsel and baubles, and a string of coloured lights.
The aim is to create a pleasing whole, with glow and glitter in all the dark corners, but no one teaches you how to do that.
We just have to plonk it all on there somehow, stand back and view the effect, then re-arrange bits.
After hours of effort and pine-needle scratches, the family barely glance at it. After all it's only a Xmas-tree, and anyone can decorate one, can't they?
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