It’s OK to Write a Messy First Draft

Summary

The article emphasizes the importance of allowing oneself to write an imperfect first draft as a crucial step in the writing process.

Abstract

The article, titled "It’s OK to Write a Messy First Draft," encourages writers to abandon the pursuit of perfection in their initial drafts. It cites Ernest Hemingway, who famously said, "The first draft of anything is shit." The author, Linda Locke, shares her personal experience with the struggle of striving for perfection in writing. She advocates for embracing imperfection and getting thoughts and words onto the page without inhibition, as refinement can occur during the editing phase. The article motivates writers to express themselves fully, assuring them that the world benefits from their willingness to share their work, even if it begins as a messy first draft.

Opinions

The author believes that perfectionism can hinder the writing process and should be set aside to allow for genuine expression.
Writing a messy first draft is presented as a necessary and acceptable part of writing, not a sign of failure.
The editing process is highlighted as the appropriate time to refine and improve one's work, not the initial drafting phase.
The article suggests that overcoming the fear of imperfection can lead to greater productivity and authenticity in writing.
Linda Locke encourages readers to follow her on Medium or subscribe to her newsletter for more insights on writing.
She also offers her membership link for those interested in accessing all her stories and the works of other Medium writers, with the added benefit of supporting her work through the small commission she receives from new memberships.

Stop trying to be perfect and just write

Image from Canva

“The first draft of anything is shit.” ─ Ernest Hemingway

A lot of people get hung up on writing perfectly.

I know, because I was one of them.

If you want to write, you’ll need to get a little messy.

It’s part of the process.

Being perfect is not.

The goal is to express yourself fully, to get your ideas and words out of your head and onto that page.

You can refine it all later in the editing process.

Decide right now to kick perfectionism to the curb!

Don’t let it stop you from saying what you want to say, writing what you want to write and getting it out there and published.

The world needs to hear what you want to write.

Starting with a messy first draft is the first step — Papa Hemingway would approve.

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