In Part 1, I talk about how all (and I do mean ALL) writers MUST redraft their work. The changes might be big or small, but the final product is never exactly the same as the first draft.

I admit that I didn’t really want to redraft anything. I beat myself up a lot (unnecessarily) for not getting it perfect the first time. What a waste of my time!

In many ways, I’ve been too attached to my original ideas of what the story “should” be, rather than being flexible and allowing the story to change. I needed to  push myself to write better, and let the story morph as it may.

It was a great lesson to learn.

But it also got me thinking: Are there any well known stories (movies, books,whatever) out there that bear little resemblance to the original idea?

Here are a few examples that support the idea that all first drafts are shit, and that the BEST ideas often come later.

Gone With The Wind

“Gone With the Wind” is a favorite of mine. It has the best elements of an epic love story. History, unrequited love, war, controversial topics, strong characters… you don’t get much better than that!

(Side note: I’d LOVE to write a character like Rhett Butler someday. He is charming in the movie,  but just wait till you read the book!).

Even if you don’t like Scarlett O’Hara, she’s hard to forget. I happen to love her. She’s arrogant and spoiled, but in a charismatic way. I can’t help but like her!

But here’s the best part: Margaret Mitchell originally named her Pansy, and changed the heroine’s name to Scarlett just before the novel went for print. 1, 2

Really? PANSY???? Can you picture her having ANY other name than Scarlett? I certainly can’t.

Thank GOD Margaret Mitchell re-drafted. I couldn’t have taken “Pansy O’Hara” seriously.

West Side Story 

You know “West Side Story,” the 1950s retelling of Romeo and Juliet? The one about rival white and Puerto Rican gangs wreaking havoc in Manhattan’s upper west side?

Yeah. It was originally about Irish Catholic and Jewish families duking it out in the lower east side. 3

Can you imagine it??!?!? West Side Story was originally “East Side Story” with a heavy dose of anti-semitism.

By the way, if you haven’t see West Side story yet, please stop reading this immediately, and go find a copy. Even if you don’t like parts of it, (though I love this movie, I tend to get bored toward the end), it’s so worth it to see men acting like macho gang members, while leaping and doing pirouettes.

(Side note: I’m super pissed that Elvis Presley wasn’t cast as Tony. He would’ve been AMAZING!!!! Elvis was originally asked to play the role, but he declined because his business manager or whatever advised him not to be part of some two bit, off beat musical. I mean, seriously. Can’t you picture Elvis here!?!?)

Sigh… this is my favorite song from West Side Story. I’ll randomly sing it while I’m scrubbing the tub (good acoustics), or washing the dishes (’cause I’m bored).

Anyway. Moving on.

I’m sure there are plenty of other examples, but those happen to be my favorite. That, and I’m operating off of about 5 hrs of sleep (cough – writing deadlines – cough), and I don’t have the energy to look up any more.

What are your favorite movies? Books? Plays? Can you imagine them being any other way?

– Chelsey

References:

1. Shrewd, Selfish Scarlett: A Complicated Heroine, http://www.npr.org/2008/01/28/1848270...

2. Scarlett O’Hara, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarlet...

3. West Side Story, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Si...