Quick Tip: Don’t Edit your First Draft
A lot of people say they have trouble writing. If you ask some questions, you often find out that they get stuck trying to make their first draft perfect.
Stop.
It’s not supposed to be perfect. It’s a first draft. Inherent in the name is the idea that there’s a second draft (and probably more) to follow.
Lots of time to fix typos, move paragraphs, hone word choice and all that. But not if you stay stuck on that first draft.
Get the damn thing down as quickly as you can. Don’t show it to anyone yet (especially not clients, who might freak out at spelling errors and other basic mistakes).
Revisit your original outline for the piece (if you had one), then read the draft again to see if you missed any important points. Look at the flow of ideas. Do the examples reinforce your main thesis? Do you even have a thesis? Make structural changes, and identify where you need to create or improve transitions between thoughts.
Only when you have the structure of the piece where you want it to be should you bother honing the wording, correcting spelling and checking facts. (Why fix a typo at the beginning when you might delete the whole paragraph?
Now, let’s not hear any more guff about not being able to get your writing done.
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POSTED IN: Communication Skills, Entry Level PR, Quick Tips, Speechwriting, Writing
10 opinions for Quick Tip: Don’t Edit your First Draft
Jason Falls
Dec 30, 2007 at 7:56 am
Ah, perfection. This tip might be your best. The day I became a prolific writer is the day I realized the first thing on paper wasn’t going to be the last thing on the paper. Teaching yourself how to edit (and thus not mull over the first draft so long) is sometimes the hardest thing to learn. But you’ll be better in the long run taking Eric’s advice and just putting the first try down. Great post, E.
Anne Wayman
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:07 pm
I looked at the headline and went “what!!!!!” But you’re so right Eric! So many people get caught in details like typos way before they should and it stops them cold.
I have a friend, oh never mind, we all do… friends who can’t get passed the first ‘graph… you know.
A
What? Don’t Edit Your First Draft???
Dec 30, 2007 at 1:15 pm
[…] Eric, over at Common Sense PR stopped me cold with this headline: Don’t Edit your First Draft […]
Nancy Pierce, Zeal PR, Inc.
Dec 30, 2007 at 7:51 pm
My writing mentor taught me to write using the “diarrhea method” — he said I should just go SPLAT and get it all out, then go back and clean it up. Kind of graphic, but I’ve never forgotten it!
Ike
Dec 30, 2007 at 9:21 pm
My problem is interruptions. With kids and clients and chapters nipping at the heels at all times, I am hard-pressed to roll anything resembling coherence out my blog.
Assuming, of course, there was any value there to being with.
Michael
Dec 31, 2007 at 9:14 am
I agree entirely and try to teach this to my kids and to students I have had. You also mention something that a lot of people forget - an outline. If you go through the process of outlining, then a draft, then check against outline and check for structure, then polish, you will actually get a lot more done. And you won’t forget the details. Often details are left out because to much time was spent on “word choice” and “sound.”
Best Communications Tips - 2007
Dec 31, 2007 at 7:48 pm
[…] Don’t Edit your First Draft […]
Links for 01-01-2008 | Velcro City Tourist Board
Dec 31, 2007 at 9:21 pm
[…] - Quick Tip: Don’t Edit your First Draft “Only when you have the structure of the piece where you want it to be should you bother […]
A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye » Blog Archive » Editing: Part 3 - When and how should I start editing?
Jan 25, 2008 at 11:15 pm
[…] writers agree with me. Eric Eggertson at Common Sense PR […]
vishal gurav
Mar 5, 2008 at 9:41 am
how should i improve my communication skill.
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