Why is the First Draft So Hard to Write?

Because you’re trying too hard.

So you have a big idea for a new article. All you need to do is get it out of your head and onto the paper.

You scribble a few ideas down and do a little bit of research to add credibility to the points you want to make. Everything is ready to go. You’re bursting at the seams to start writing and put your life-changing words on the page.

Sitting at your keyboard, you start writing but you’re surprised by how slow the words come. Your task as a writer is to create something from nothing. You have to assimilate your ideas and information onto a page in a way that makes people want to read. You know you have something important to say. But finding the right words turns out to be more difficult than you thought.

Writing the first draft feels like pulling teeth. It can be uncomfortable and most people don’t enjoy it.

How do you take interesting bits of information, insight, and inspiration and form a compelling narrative?

Why is the First Draft so Difficult?

When you write the first draft, you’re consciously trying to put together pieces you hope will form a whole.

It doesn’t matter if you’re writing an article, novel, research paper, or dissertation. The first draft is like putting together a puzzle. Can we agree?

Even bestselling authors aren’t immune to the difficulties of the first draft.

“I’m writing a first draft and reminding myself that I’m simply shoveling sand into a box, so that later, I can build castles.” — Shannon Hale

Accomplished writers agree that the most important part of writing the first draft is to get something down on paper. Until you have something written down, you have nothing to work with to craft something more.

The problem comes when you expect your first draft to be an amazing piece of art that requires little or no revision.

“I think the trouble starts when you sit down to write and imagine that you will achieve something magical and magnificent — and when you don’t, panic sets in. The solution is never to sit down and imagine that you will achieve something magical and magnificent.” — Malcolm Gladwell

A first draft is more of the first attempt than a finished product. It’s the place where you should use your secret weapon.

The Secret Weapon of Every Writer

Every writer has a secret weapon, but too few use it. It’s possible you don’t know how to use it, or that you don’t trust yourself to use it.

Your secret weapon is your subconscious mind. What do I mean?

Studies on the subconscious mind show it plays a key role in creativity. But your subconscious does its best work when you let go of your conscious need to make the first draft work.

That means you must surrender control and trust your subconscious to organize and connect your thoughts.

Doctor Nancy C. Andreasen describes the power the subconscious mind has in the creative process:

Neuroimaging studies of the brain during “REST” (random episodic silent thought, also referred to as the default state) suggest that the association cortices are the primary areas that are active during this state and that the brain is spontaneously [reorganizing] and acting as a [self-organizing] system.

Here’s what that means in layman’s terms.

When your brain isn’t consciously engaged in a task, it’s hard at work organizing and connecting information.

That sounds cool, but what does it mean for writers?

Creativity Has to Come From Somewhere

You’ve probably had the experience of getting stuck while writing. When that happens, the best thing to do is walk away for a while.

If you’ve ever walked away from something you’re writing, what happened when you returned? Chances are, you had more clarity and were able to get unstuck.

While you were away doing something else, your subconscious mind was hard at work organizing the information for you. When you returned to writing, all that information was available to you.

If you’ve ever had an experience like that, you know how exciting it is when you’re suddenly able to work through the problem. Your subconscious did its job.

This also explains why it’s easier to edit than write the first draft. Once you finish the first draft, you’ll discover ways to improve it when you return.

I find the longer I leave the first draft off to the side and concentrate on something else, the easier it is to make it flow in the editing process.

Your subconscious mind is a powerful tool, but it takes one specific skill to access it.

The Skill You Need to Access Your Subconscious

You can’t access the power of your subconscious mind in your writing by consciously trying to make it work.

You must master one skill: Trust

Every writer has to learn to trust the process. Authors of all kinds say the most important thing is to permit yourself to write poorly. If you overthink it, you won’t get the first draft out.

Overthinking complicates the process of writing and inhibits trust. It’s ok to plan and outline — I always start writing with some notes and research. But don’t get stuck trying to force everything together. Overthinking kills creativity.

Write fast and make mistakes. Trust your subconscious mind is working to put everything together.

Final Thoughts

The more you trust in your subconscious mind to organize your writing, the faster your willing to churn out the first draft. Don’t expect your first (or sometimes even your second) attempt to produce magic because great writers know the power of editing. Don’t overthink it, just write and let your subconscious take care of the rest.