Writing the first draft fast
· 1 min read
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.