Every first draft is a little bit sh*t
Author: Skye Cusack
Let’s normalise terrible first drafts.
(...Please).
(For my sake).
All jokes aside, it’s fine to not write a perfectly polished piece of text on the first go. It’s good, even! Writing isn’t about perfection. It’s about realness, evoking emotion, and inspiring new lines of thought. This is true for most forms of writing, including social media captions, blogs, press releases, novels, or even a risky text.
And I just know you’ve got drafted versions of texts in your Notes app right now. Don’t try to lie to me.
Whatever it is, worry less about spelling and grammar, and focus more on the core of whatever it is you’re trying to say. You can clean up the rough draft later.
But this is easier said than done, so let’s look at 8 tips for writing a first draft:
Change up your environment
Sometimes it’s not about what you’re writing, but where. I’m currently writing this in my living room, sitting on a broken recliner chair, at 1:04am on a Tuesday morning. Not exactly the best writing conditions. If you’re not in the groove, try writing at a park, cafe, beach, or even just your backyard.
Dot points
Dot points are a great tool to use at the very beginning of the writing process, particularly when you’re not yet sure of the exact flow or angle you’re looking for. Writing short, sharp sentences are a great starting point. You can then flesh out each point from there.
Writing prompts
Writing prompts are a great way to get the brain jogging. A simple one to start with is, “What I really want to say is…”, or there are a bunch of prompt lists available for free on Google. But be careful you don’t find yourself relying too much on prompts or templates, because this habit can stifle the authenticity of your writing.
Set a timer
This one is for all the competitive Capricorns with OCD (aka me). The second there is a deadline or time limit, my entire mindset shifts. I’m suddenly the most motivated person sitting in front of any laptop ever. If you’re a beginner, I recommend doing this in rounds. Try setting a timer for 5 or 10 minutes, writing as much as you can, and then taking a break before starting again. It’s not likely you’ll finish your writing in 5 minutes, but setting a timer for 20 minutes may make it difficult to keep momentum. A lack of concentration can evoke every writer’s biggest nemesis: phone scrolling.
Take a break
As mentioned, taking breaks is important. A 20 minute break can do wonders in reducing mental fatigue. Even better still, taking a break for a day or two can help you come back with a fresh mind to see your draft in a new light.
Have a chat
Pen to paper (or finger pads to keys) isn’t everyone’s thing. It’s totally valid to have trouble turning your thoughts into coherent, flowing sentences. Talking it out with someone else can help get the juices flowing and add a much needed additional perspective to a draft. Chat with a your mum, a peer, or even a copywriter (how’d you like that sneaky CTA?). You might be grateful for a fresh take on a piece of writing you’re simply too close to.
Recording yourself talking
Maybe you don’t want to talk to others about what you’re writing. That’s cool, I’ve got another tip for you instead. Use your phone to record a voice memo of yourself verbally brainstorming, and then listen back later and transcribe the parts of dialogue you like. Note: Not recommended for those who hate the sound of their own voice.
Acceptance
Accept that what you’re writing is just a first draft. It’s likely that no one else will ever see it. The only real purpose of a first draft is to understand the main points of the piece, and then you can clean it, shape it and dress it up from there. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, and accept it’s okay to have one, two, or even ten versions of something before it’s ready to publish.
Happy writing!