"El primer borrador de cualquier cosa es una mierda"

Let's break it down. The essence of the quote, "The first draft of anything is shit," is that initial attempts are rarely perfect. They’re rough, raw, and often not very good. This idea, famously attributed to Ernest Hemingway, carries a potent message: don’t expect perfection right out of the gate. It’s a reminder that the creative process involves multiple stages, and that first attempts are just the beginning.

Historically, Hemingway said this in the context of writing, but the wisdom applies broadly. Consider when you first learned to ride a bike. You didn’t start off doing wheelies or racing down hills. You wobbled, fell, and maybe even shed a tear or two. But with each fall came progress—a little more balance, a touch more confidence. It’s the same with writing, or any creative endeavor. Your first draft isn’t meant to be polished; it’s a foundation to build upon.

Picture this: you’re writing a novel. The idea is brilliant in your head. You sit down, start typing, and after an hour, you have a couple of pages. You read them and—ugh—it’s not what you envisioned at all. The characters feel flat, the dialogue is clunky, and the plot has holes you could drive a truck through. This is precisely what Hemingway was talking about. That initial draft is a mess, yes, but it’s a necessary step. Every great novel started as a terrible first draft.

So, how do you apply this? First, embrace the mess. When you start a project, give yourself permission to write poorly. Seriously, just let it flow. Don’t get bogged down by the urge to perfect every sentence. It’s about getting your ideas out. Once they’re on paper, you have something to work with. Then, it’s time to refine, revise, and rewrite. Good writing is rewriting.

Imagine a sculptor with a block of marble. The first cuts don't reveal the final statue. They’re rough, removing big chunks to shape the form. Only through meticulous chiseling and polishing does the masterpiece emerge. Your work is no different. The first draft is you hacking away at that marble.

Let me tell you a story. A friend of mine, Sarah, is a graphic designer. She once showed me the first drafts of a logo she was working on. They were… let’s just say, not great. She admitted she felt embarrassed by them. But here’s the thing: she kept at it, refining and adjusting. By the tenth iteration, the logo was stunning—a perfect blend of simplicity and elegance. She laughed, remembering how awful the first drafts were. Without those initial attempts, she’d never have reached the final design.

In essence, remember that perfection is a process. You start with something rough, something that might make you cringe. But that’s the point. It’s a starting place. So, the next time you’re working on something and it feels like a disaster, think of Hemingway. Smile, roll up your sleeves, and get ready for the real work to begin. Because perfection isn’t born—it’s crafted.