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I envy playwright Edward Albee. Not so much for his success, although I wouldn't mind enjoying his renown as one of America's most gifted and prolific playwrights. Rather, I'm jealous because of his work habits. According to interviews I've heard, he lets an idea germinate. Germinate for a long, long time. When he finally feels ready to write-it pretty much comes out in a single draft.
He goes over it to "tighten" and polish, but he doesn't have to get into major structural issues. Or add/subtract characters. Or rethink the story arc.
I, by contrast, am painstakingly slow and have to feel my way around a play or screenplay like a man searching for the light switch in a strange hotel room. I often follow a torturous maze to reach my final destination.
Some scenes get cut altogether. New ones are added. Scenes get rearranged. I honestly don't know how many drafts I do. They are too numerous to count. But when I'm done, I finally realize what my original intent was and it's reflected on the page.
I hate to tell you this, but I think Albee's the exception. Don't forget, too, that his initial thought process may be a way of revising before writing.
For most of us, however, the myth of a near perfect first draft is just that: a myth.
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