Lore

Shitty First Drafts

Posted on 11/07/2014 by blueion

I’ve been following Anne Lamott’s advice to write shitty first drafts for years, and I highly recommend it. No matter what you’re writing, designing, building, programming, or making, start with a shitty first draft. Give yourself permission to get it all down or all out: the good, the bad, the ugly, the totally bizarre.

It’s okay.

No one ever has to see it.

After producing the aforementioned shitty first draft, walk away from it. For at least half an hour, but preferably 12 – 24 hours.

Oh, look! Shitty first drafts in the wild. With actual handwriting! — Shitty first drafts in the wild. With genuine human handwriting!

You can do this.

Then, return to said draft and review. Some things may make you wince. And then, something will make you extremely happy.

Start there.