Bird by Bird Archives - Libby Fischer Hellmann

Writing Lite Tip #10: First drafts don’t have to be good

May 20, 2014May 13, 2014 by Libby Fischer Hellmann

First drafts don't have to be good. They just have to be written.

One of my favorite writing books is Annie LaMotte’s Bird By Bird. And one of my favorite chapters is “Shitty First Drafts.” Read it. Welcome it. Write as horrible a first draft as you can. But get it down. Only then will you be able to revise and make it better.