Before we start talking about HOW to write a fantastic first draft, let’s talk about WHY you should do so. You should write a fantastic first draft because it will lead to a superb second draft, splendid subsequent drafts, and a fabulous final draft. A good first draft provides a solid foundation on which to build your textual house.

Next, let us DEFINE a fantastic first draft: A fantastic first draft is not necessarily (1) perfect, (2) complete, (3) fun to read, or (4) nice to look at. “Fantastic” here means “workable.” The first draft is your clay. In subsequent drafts, you will shape that clay into a pretty sculpture, i.e. something others may want to read. But, just as most sculpture admirers will never see the lump of clay that a sculpture once was, your readers will not see your first draft. So, keep that in mind if you tend to aim for perfection. Rather than 100% readability, try for somewhere between 60% and 80% in the first draft, remembering that you will have the opportunity to edit. Here are some tips to get you started:

Prepare.

Some things you should have with you when you write your first draft include interview notes, outlines, research information, and an idea of your main message. To determine your main message, do some thinking and planning in advance to determine the one thing you want readers to remember. You will also want to keep in mind any high-level company or organizational messages, as well as keywords if you are writing for an online medium. It also helps to have an idea of the voice and style you want to convey. Of course, you will also need your favorite drafting tool, whether that’s a computer, a notebook, or a voice recorder.

Add an intro.

Some sources on how to write a fantastic first draft will tell you not to bother with the introduction until you have written the piece. I think that’s good advice, because once you have the bulk of the piece written, the intro comes naturally. However, it’s advice that I do not follow. For me, the intro sets the tone for the piece and, without a good intro, I am unable to move forward. Of course you should do what you’re most comfortable with, but I suggest that you at least compose a “filler” intro to set the stage for the material and let readers know why they should keep reading.

Use placeholders.

If you get to a place at which you feel stuck or have a sense of what needs to come next, but don’t want to worry about the details just yet, use a placeholder to remind you of what to add later. For example, let’s say I have arrived at this section of this post, and am not sure what I want to write. I could insert a bracketed comment like, “[talk about coming back to a section if you get stuck].” This strategy allows you to keep moving.

Be open to discoveries.

Sometimes, as you write, you discover that the information you have to convey doesn’t fit well with the title you had in mind. Or, there’s really too much for just one blog post. Or, there is something fascinating within your material that you hadn’t noticed before. Such is the wonder of writing! Yet, if you’re just trying to get a draft out, it can be a little annoying. The material isn’t quite fitting into your plan. Rather than getting frustrated, as it is easy to do, think of it as an opportunity to make your fantastic first draft even better. Don’t resist it. Go with it, and see where it takes you. Don’t be afraid to revise your plan.

Refrain from premature editing.

Otherwise known as “silence your inner critic,” this tip is a reminder that writing (especially drafting!) and editing are two different things. Creating an initial draft is like patiently putting together a puzzle, piece by piece. You’ve got a clump here, and a section there, and they seem to fit together pretty well. Now, if someone comes along and says, “That part’s wrong! Those pieces don’t fit together!” and you listen to them, rethinking and redoing what you’ve already done, you will never get the puzzle completed! Rather than making each part perfect, aim for a rough approximation of the big picture.

What advice can you offer on how to write a fantastic first draft? Let us know in the comments!

About the Author: Karen Marcus, M.A. is a Northern Colorado copywriter who has been helping clients in a wide range of industries to put their best word forward for 13 years.

First draft not so fantastic? Karen can help! Click here for contact info.