First drafts terrify me. I’m currently in the middle (at least I think it’s the middle!) of a very strange, half-dreamed, ill formed, urgent, naturish first draft of a new novel. And it’s coming along very slowly. And it’s too ambitious for me and I don’t think I’m the right writer for this idea or story or characters. And yet. I know I should write it because it is actually too ambitious and is more than I bargained for. So here I am. I’m prepared to share two things about the book with you: 1. that it’s a dual narrative family portrait spanning 30-40 ish years. 2. It is about a woman who takes a car trip with her child. Nothing is what it seems. The working title is Blue Mountain. (You got 3. I’m generous like that!) So back to this first draft. This week I’m currently researching and developing the first draft part by taking a writing residency. I’ve had many revelations about the novel and as terrible as the writing has been, ive …