The Ugly First Draft

Stop starting. Version zero exists so version one can.

Give me the ugly first draft of [the thing] in sixty seconds. No polish, no hedging. Wrong is fine — blank is not. We'll fix it together.

Replace anything in [brackets] with your real thing. The prompt is deliberately short — resist the urge to pad it.

When to use it

Anything you're avoiding starting — the email, the post, the plan.

Why it works

Editing is easier than creating. The blank page is the tax you pay for wanting the first version to be good — asking for an UGLY draft removes the standard entirely, and sixty seconds later you're an editor instead of a starter.

How to run it

1. Name the thing you’re avoiding

   The email, the post, the plan — whatever has been sitting blank.
2. Demand ugly, in sixty seconds

   Ask for the ugly first draft — no polish, no hedging. Wrong is fine; blank is not.
3. Fix it together

   Now you’re editing instead of starting. Editing is easier than creating.

From the video

Editing is easier than creating. Version zero exists so version one can. The video about this prompt started as an ugly draft.

The video for this one drops on @espoai — the page is live so the prompt is yours already.

Make it yours

The same method, pointed at the situations people actually hit.

Give me the ugly first draft of an email to [who] about [what] in sixty seconds. No polish, no hedging. Wrong is fine — blank is not. We'll fix it together.

Give me the ugly first draft of a post about [the idea] in sixty seconds. No polish, no hedging. Wrong is fine — blank is not. We'll fix it together.

Give me the ugly first draft of what I'd say to [who] about [the topic] in sixty seconds. No polish, no hedging. Wrong is fine — blank is not. We'll fix it together.