(5 min read.) Writing a first draft is a thrill. I’ve written thousands of first drafts in my 20+ year career as a creative writer. Some were easy, some were hard. I’ve learned STUFF. I hope my sweat and mistakes can save you some time. Writing a first draft takes some guts, but it can be really fun. Here are my honest tips for what to do (and what to avoid.)
Writing a First Draft: 5 Honest Tips
1) Let it come out. If you write something you hate, you can always delete it (immediately or later), but you can’t drive a parked car. Get in motion. Start moving forward, backward, sideways; doesn’t matter; you can steer once you’re moving. If you want to get anywhere as a writer, the most important thing is to move.
2) Let it come out however it wants! The most common mistake in writing a first draft is not writing, so trust any shape that gets you writing. Plot it, go by the seat of your pants, take random swings in the dark. Write your story in a straight line from start to end (I’ve done that.) Write it ending first and work your way to the start (done that.) Write it in weirdly-entangled random chunks that you separate into clear scenes later (definitely done that), or write it in weirdly-entangled chunks for a while until you suddenly realize that weirdly-entangled chunks are the only way to honestly tell this weirdly-entangled story (done that, nominated for an award for it.) Trust your brain to get the ideas out in a way that’s natural for you, then decide later if you like it that way. If you’re trying to get a story out of your head, don’t force it to come out in a certain way. Welcome it however it comes.
3) Get building materials. You can’t make pizza out of dust and you can’t make a house out of pizza (though I’d love to try.) To make anything, you need the right building materials. To write a first draft your needed materials are: time, focus, skills, and the wild belief that you can write something that will matter to strangers.
If you don’t have time, either quit doing something else in your life to open up more time, or try thinking smaller. Slow progress is progress! Embrace working with the time you do have, even if it’s just ten minutes here or there.
If you don’t have focus, my favorite tool for that is FLOWN for Focus. Deep work neuroscience on your side = an easy advantage for your brain.
So, that’s my advice about time and focus. If you don’t have the skills you need as a writer, or the wild belief that you can ACTUALLY write something that matters, I wanna help you get both. I’m blogging as fast as I can. If you want faster results, I’d love to coach you at sliding scale prices. (If that’s still too steep, email me to ask about scholarship sessions; I’ll send you current info on how to work with me for free.)
4) Read what you’ve got. This is so simple but it’s a massive help. If you don’t know what to write next (or don’t have time to write today), simply read some of what you have. If you only have three sentences written so far, read those. Every time you even look at this project, you’re priming your brain with the real-life neurological conditions that will support your neurons in spewing out the rest of your draft. (I could give you a long scientific blurb about this, or you could trust me and try it.) If you want to finish writing a first draft but you’re feeling stuck, read what you’ve got. Then, read it again. Do this often and you’ll naturally start having fresh ideas about what you want to add.
5) Aim for the moon. Many first drafts need a lot of revision. Some do NOT! Your first draft can be your final draft. It’s okay if it comes out messy, but it’s also okay to try your hardest and/or simply be happy with what you’ve done. I’ve published a first draft with no edits and gotten really good reviews on that work. Instead of assuming your first draft has to be a mess, it can be fun (and a great exercise in creative confidence) to arrive at the page with curiosity towards excellence. Will your first version of this idea/chapter/section be perfect? Spin the roulette wheel. Maybe you’ll get lucky! “What if this is already finished?!” If that idea intimidates or freezes you, you don’t have to try to get things right the first time. But if the challenge might motivate you, try. Aim for the moon, land among the stars (or possibly hit the moon!) There are NO RULES IN WRITING
What to Avoid when Writing a First Draft:
1) Don’t knock it. When writing a first draft, some people call the draft “messy” or “sh*tty” as a way to relieve anxiety and stress. I do NOT do this. You can, but I simply don’t advise it. I think it’s pretty rude to insult your own hard work. Although it might feel comforting in the moment to take the pressure off yourself by slamming your work-in-progress as “crappy,” I feel it’s not great for your long-term creative confidence.
Even if your current draft isn’t exactly great reading material, I encourage you to consider that your first draft is not bad or crappy or terrible; it’s simply a BABY. I love babies! Everyone loves babies and baby animals. It’s cute when a kitten falls over trying to walk, and it’s cute when a first draft makes no sense or is saggy or soggy or thin or too long. Instead of viewing your work as something “sh*tty,” consider thinking of it as something “CUTE.” Like a stumbling, slobbering, confused, adorable little PUPPY. Writing a first draft takes time and focus. Are you more likely to give your time and focus to a pile of trash or to a a sweet little puppy? End of discussion.
2) Don’t show your family or friends. If you need feedback, don’t go to a loved one. I say this having watched well-meaning and deeply loving spouses and parents and besties accidentally crush the enthusiasm of many aspiring authors. Once you’re done, you can show your work to whoever. But while it’s still embryonic, don’t show it to someone who thinks they know you well. It’s too high stakes. If they hate it, you’ll probably get discouraged (and you might even have an awkward fight about it.) That seems obvious. But here comes the weird part.
Even very strong approval from someone whose opinion you value super-highly can mess with your intrinsic motivation and make it harder to finish writing your first draft. So, while you’re still in the middle of writing your first draft, I truly advise you: do not show it to people who matter a lot to your daily life or well-being, okay? (If you want to learn more about intrinsic motivation, I recommend the highly-readable book “Get It Done” by behavioral scientist Ayelet Fishbach; buying it through that affiliate link supports me and small independent bookstores.)
3) Don’t give up. Don’t give up until you feel done. If you’re not done, keep going. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since you started writing your first draft. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since you touched your project. You can still keep going. Whether it’s been a day since you wrote or ten years since you wrote, don’t give up! First drafts are never dead; they’re just sleeping. Forgive yourself and get back to it. The only person who can write this is you. (If you have a stalled first draft you want to restart, try my 5 Writing Tips to Restart an Unfinished Draft.)
Those are some of my favorite tips for what to do and what to avoid when you’re writing a first draft. I wish you luck and courage. If you’re really feeling brave you can even edit a first draft while you write it. I always do.
xo, megan
There’s no one way to write. There’s only your way. I hope some of my tactics and ideas can help you find it.
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