Essay assignments are such high-stakes tasks, that we feel a lot of pressure to do serious work, and perform well, at every stage of the writing process. Sure, prewriting can be kind of fun, and outlining can get us excited about the possibilities a project can hold.
At the time of starting to write a first draft, however, the pressure starts to mount. Sometimes we can feel locked into the need to get everything perfect, that it can be paralyzing.
The thing to remember is that EVERY first draft is crappy. Everyone’s. The crappy first draft can be very liberating. If it doesn’t have to be good, then we feel a lot more freedom to get started and get it over with.
Ernest Hemingway once wrote that, "[t]he first draft of anything is shit." This statement holds true for renowned authors like Hemingway, but also for amateur writers and students alike. Consider the following excerpt from a blog post by Melissa Ward, who warns us of the danger involved with trying to write a perfect first draft:
"You’re not going to learn how to take risks, because you’ll never let yourself write anything less than perfect on the first go. FREAKING STOP IT. Write some garbage. Let it spew forth, and once you’ve finally emptied that stinking pustule, take a step away and come back later. Put on some gloves and dig through the pile you emptied out on those pages, and you’ll begin to find 5 some gems. Use them to write a good second draft, and then repeat until you have an excellent final draft."
Trust in this step of the process. Write crap. There will be plenty of time later to refine it through the remaining steps of the writing process.
Attribution:
English Composition I. Schoolcraft College.
Attributions:
"The Writing Process" Youtube, uploaded by Amal Mansour, 2 Oct. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGImUx4zg64
Permissions: YouTube Terms of Service
Here is an example of a first draft and a final draft using Dorothea Lange’s “Migrant Mother” photograph critique. The comparison demonstrates the depth and polish that revision brings.
The photograph of "Migrant Mother" was taken by Dorothea Lange in 1936. It is a black and white photograph and shows a family that is poor and suffering. The photograph was taken in 1936. This is the time of the "Dust Bowl," when migrant farm workers were suffering. The photograph shows that this family is poor. The photograph shows that the mother is trying to care for her family. The mother is at the center of the photograph, and she is the center of her family. Two of the children are leaning against the mother, one on each side of her. The children are leaning against the mother's shoulders. One child has his hands to his face, showing that he is sad about the situation. Both children are looking down because they are depressed. There is also a baby in the mother's lap. The baby is resting peacefully. It looks like the baby has just breastfed, showing that the mother is doing her best to care for him.
Dorothea Lange’s 1936 black-and-white photograph “Migrant Mother” captures not just hardship, but humanity in crisis. The mother’s weathered face, framed by her children clinging tightly, reveals not only poverty but also resilience and familial devotion. Taken during the Dust Bowl mass migration, the image evokes both suffering and stoic endurance—from the worn, threadbare clothing to the children’s solemn expressions. Lange’s photograph compels viewers to see beyond visible deprivation to the enduring strength undergirding daily struggle.
A few things to note when comparing the first draft to the final draft:
Attribution:
Sample Student Essay Final Draft. Professor Raymond Rambo.
Read the prompt below, and write a quick, short response.
“Describe a challenge you have faced in your education or personal life. How did you approach this challenge, and what did you learn from the experience? In your essay, explain how this experience has shaped your goals or outlook moving forward.”
After writing your initial response, think about the revising and editing steps of the writing process. Then, review your response. Next, redraft your response.
After redrafting your response, take a look at your initial draft and your second draft. What do you notice? What changes did you make?
