The most important lesson I have learned about writing, is the importance of allowing the first draft to “suck”. For the longest time, my internal critic and editor was the biggest obstacle I faced in writing. The judgment I heaped on my own work while writing a first draft was heavy. In the end, I rarely got very far and would abandon projects almost before starting. And then, I finally figured out the secret: the first draft isn’t about being good. Its about finishing. The first draft is allowed to suck, and there will always be problems. The first draft will never be perfect. You’ll fix it when you revise it.

The secret to writing a first draft is just to get it done.