How to write your first draft with ease - without struggling with perfectionism

Do you know that feeling when you start on a blank piece of paper and don't know how to begin? You're not alone!

Most of us struggle to get started with writing because we have this idea that it has to be perfect from the start.

But what if I told you that the secret to good writing is actually writing a ‘terrible first draft’?

It's all about getting the ideas down on paper

• The first draft is where you just write it down
• The second draft is where you correct it
• And the third draft is the draft where you check every single word

The problem arises when we try to do all three things at once.

It's a recipe for frustration and writer's block.

5 steps to writing your first draft effortlessly

1. Start with the end in mind

Before you write a single word, you need to be clear:

• Who are you writing for
• What you want to tell them
• Why they will find it interesting

Ask yourself these questions:

• What problem am I solving?
• Whose problem am I solving?
• What emotion am I creating?
• What action am I encouraging?
• What benefit am I unlocking?

This helps you get clarity on your topic and makes the actual writing much easier.

2. Create a bullet-point brain storm

Set a timer for 10 minutes and write down everything you can think of:

• Every important point you want to cover.
• Even ideas that seem unimportant now
• Use bullet points to organise your thoughts

Then go back and group similar ideas together.

3. Develop catchy headlines

Review your main ideas and make sure they fit with your overall direction.

Then brainstorm at least 3 different headlines.

A good template to follow is: ‘How to do {X} without {Y}’

For example:

• How to write a first draft without the pressure of perfection
• How to write a long-form page that converts

4. Prepare the page

Now comes the fun part:

• Open a blank document
• Write your chosen headline at the top
• Put your main points in a logical order

You now have a draft that makes the next step much less daunting.

5 Fill in the skeleton

Now you just need to fill in the details for each point. Focus on adding:

• Examples
• Steps
• Stories
• Tips and tricks
• Benefits

Remember: Focus on one paragraph at a time and don't worry about perfection!

Try this prompt to get help with your first draft

Here's a prompt you can copy directly into ChatGPT or other AI assistant to get help creating your first draft:

The most important thing to remember

Give yourself time to walk away from the draft when you're done. Come back with fresh eyes after a day or two.

Every good piece of writing starts as a not-so-good draft. It's all about getting the ideas down on paper first and then refining them later.

I hope these tips help you get started on your next writing project.

P.S. Remember - it's okay to write a ‘terrible first draft’ - it's actually key to creating something amazing in the end!

I have a personal recommendation for you

I'm excited to recommend my friend, Ingrid Lill – Visual Business Strategist with a Pencil.

If you’ve ever felt like your head’s about to explode from too many ideas, Ingrid is your person. “If your message can’t be illustrated, it isn’t clear enough,” she says.

She helps creative business owners see their ideas – literally. Through simple sketches and visual frameworks, she turns scattered thoughts into business clarity.

Her work is especially powerful if you’ve got a lot of ideas, but no clear way to explain what you do or why it matters. Or if your offers and messaging just don’t feel like you anymore.

Her newsletter is a breath of fresh air for overthinkers and visual minds. Highly recommend.

Sign up for Ingrids newsletter her

Kind regards,

René Hjetting
Your friend with the sharp pen 🖊️

I’ll teach you how to craft compelling words, engage your audience, and turn your writing into sales. Sign up for my newsletter, The Sharp Pen, and get weekly inspiration straight to your inbox.