How to Write a Great First Draft
For many writers and poets, the first draft can be the most intimidating part of the process. First drafts are often messy and sometimes radically different from the poem you envisioned (and the poem you’ll eventually end up with). But if you can’t get through the first draft, you’ll never get to the final product either. Below, we’ve provided several tips for helping you create a great first draft.
5 tips for writing a great first draft
1. Make a mess.
Your first draft doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to exist. As Jodi Picoult said, “you might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” So when you’re first getting started on a piece, don’t be afraid to make a mess. Just sit down and commit to freewriting without editing or second-guessing yourself. Set a timer, if you’d like, and try to get all of your initial thoughts on the page, whether they’re complete, well-crafted sentences or bullets of half-formed ideas.
2. Collect resources and take notes.
There is no such thing as a truly new idea. Chances are, whatever you’ve set out to write about has been written about before. If you’re really struggling to get started, it can help to do some research first. Google research papers related to your topic, check out books from the library or call a friend to ask their opinion. Take notes on key ideas and anything else that stands out to you from your research (just make sure to keep track of where ideas and quotes come from, so you can give credit where it’s due). Once you’re ready to start writing your first draft, you can refer back to these notes to make connections and inspire you to keep going.
3. Start in the middle (or the end).
Beginnings matter—but that doesn’t mean you need to start with one. Instead of trying to write your draft sequentially from start to finish, try skipping to the middle or the end—wherever your ideas flow best. If you start wherever’s easiest for you, you can work with your flow state instead of against it. And by the time you’ve finished writing the middle or the end of your piece, the beginning will likely come more easily to you. If it doesn’t, try browsing this index of opening lines for inspiration.
4. Sleep on it.
“Sleeping on it” doesn’t necessarily mean sleeping—if you’re feeling writer’s block in the middle of your first draft, sometimes it’s enough to simply take a short snack break or go for a walk. The point is to put some space between yourself and your writing to let your ideas mature before trying to articulate them. You might have a breakthrough when you least expect it, or encounter an idea or detail that brings your entire draft back into focus.
5. Don’t edit as you go.
Don’t confuse the creative process with the critical process. When you’re writing a first draft, you’re engaging in the creative process of just bringing your ideas to life, making interesting connections, and intuiting your way through your poem. The critical process doesn’t come in until you’re ready to edit that draft—removing redundancies, changing directions, and strengthening lines. Both processes are important, but they can’t happen at the same time.
Have fun and be bold
No matter how you approach it, the first draft is your playground. It’s your opportunity to try new writing techniques, explore new ideas, and find your voice. Approach your first draft with joy and courage, and forge your own path.
