Zoe Lambourne
Freelance Writer
Zoe Lambourne
Freelance Writer
What a First Draft Doesn’t Have to Be
If you think the first draft of your article is a mess, congratulations. That's precisely what first drafts should be—unashamedly awful.
Those initial attempts to get your ideas down are the foundations you build upon. Your first draft is for your eyes only. Nobody else needs to see the chaotic muddle you start with. Despite this, you may strive for perfection, shaped by an ideal of what you think the drafting process should be.
If the quest for a flawless first draft leaves you stressed or with an urgent need to sort out your sock drawer instead, relax. Rather than living up to an unrealistic expectation of what your first draft should be, take comfort in five things it doesn't have to be.
1. Polished
The first draft is about getting the nucleus of your ideas down quickly. If you spend too much time worrying about a particular word or sentence, you may lose your train of thought.
Allow yourself to make spelling errors and typos. If you've noticed you've used the same word several times and can't think of an alternative, use it again for now. You can change it later.
If you spot something that needs a fact check or a statistic to strengthen your statement, make a note or highlight the section and return to it at the end. If you stop now to do additional research, you will lose momentum.
Your only concern at this stage is capturing what you roughly want to say. Editing, polishing, and additional research will happen later.
2. Showcasing Your Unique Style
If those little turns of phrases or analogies arise naturally in your first draft, that's great. But if not, don't sweat it.
Once you have the bare bones of your story, you can then add your voice and flair. I find it easier to do this after I've got something to work with. When I'm not thinking about all the points I need to make, my mind has more space to think creatively.
3. Written in Order
If you made a content outline before you started writing, you'll have a plan for the points you wish to cover and the order they will follow. (If you haven't written a content outline, I strongly recommend you do this as part of your
writing preparation. It will make writing your article easier and help you stay on topic.)
Your finished article can still follow the same order as your outline, but you don't have to write the first draft sequentially. Go where the energy flows. If specific headings are calling to you, write those sections first.
There's always a section that seems more tricky to put together than others. Don't let it floor you. Draft everything else, and it might make the challenging section seem more straightforward when you return to it.
I often find it easier to write my introduction and conclusion after I've written the body of the article. It helps me to pinpoint what to focus on in the opening and closing sections of the piece.
4. The Final Say on What You Include
I never prepare, draft and edit an article in one sitting. After writing my first draft, I prefer to leave it a day before I begin editing. It helps me look at my work with a fresh perspective.
I might spot that I've missed a crucial point. I can identify areas where I need to elaborate. It could mean finding additional supportive evidence.
You won't always capture everything from the outset. It doesn't mean your first draft was a failure if you have to do more research or write an extra section during the editing process.
5. The Definitive Format of Your Finished Article
Avoid getting bogged down deliberating whether to use bullet or number points, what type of table to use or where to insert images.
Once you've finished the first draft, you'll have a better idea of what your article looks like and how the content flows. You can then make formatting decisions.
Have You Got the Gist?
Ultimately, that's all you're trying to achieve for the first draft—the gist of the points you want to make, irrespective of the words and grammar used.
Your messy first draft gives you something to work on. Smoothing out the kinks, adding your style, filling in the gaps, and honing the flow and format come afterwards.
Don't fear the blank white screen and flashing cursor. Allow your unashamedly awful first draft to flow freely.
Would you still prefer to sort out your sock drawer than write a blog article?
I've got you covered. I'm a freelance writer helping B2B and B2C businesses with their blog content. I love writing, so you don't have to. Just don't look in my sock drawer!
