---
title: 'Writing the first draft fast'
date: 2026-09-04
description: 'Why the first draft should be written in one sitting, and how to make that possible.'
tags: [writing, process]
templateDemo: true # sample post shipped with the template — delete this file once the site has real posts
---

The first draft has one job: to exist. Everything else — structure, precision, the good sentence — comes from editing, and you cannot edit a blank page.

## Lower the bar on purpose

Write badly, on purpose, and quickly. Leave placeholders like _[example here]_ instead of stopping to find the example. Keep a list of questions at the bottom of the file instead of answering them inline.

## Separate the two modes

Drafting and editing use different parts of the mind. Mixing them means doing both slowly. Draft in one sitting; edit tomorrow.

> The draft is for you. The edit is for the reader.