Finish First, Edit Later
The Key to Getting It Done
“You can’t edit what hasn’t been written.”
Brad Thor
This simple truth is a game changer for anyone struggling to finish a project. Brad Thor, bestselling thriller author, once told fellow writer Jack Carr, “Give yourself permission to write a bad chapter.” That advice freed Jack to push through the fear of imperfection and simply get his work done. Only then could he go back and refine it.1
Brad Thor’s own approach to editing is telling: he keeps writing until he reaches a point where continuing to edit wouldn’t add value. Jack Carr even joked that Thor stops editing when he’d otherwise be spending 40 more years polishing a book! This mindset is a reminder that perfectionism can trap us in endless tweaking, but progress requires movement forward.
When trying to finish creative work, many obstacles can get in the way:
Perfectionism convinces us to keep revising instead of moving on.
Fear of failure makes us hold back, worried that the work isn’t good enough.
Self-doubt whispers we’re not skilled enough to finish.
Being Overwhelmed because the project seems too big to tackle.
Distractions and Procrastination pulls our focus away when we need it most.
Each of these obstacles can prevent us from reaching our potential but if we work hard to simply finish the first draft, it will do wonders and prevent us from being conquered.
The key is to give yourself permission to push through these hurdles. Though I don’t have a specific Brad Thor story to share, many authors echo a similar philosophy. Take Ernest Hemingway, who famously said, “The first draft of anything is shit.” He understood that the magic happens in rewriting, but only after you have something down on paper.
So, if you’re stuck trying to make every word perfect before moving on, stop. Give yourself permission to write badly, get it down, then come back with fresh eyes. Finishing is the essential first step.
TODAY’s CHALLENGE: Pick one creative project you’ve been hesitating to finish. [For me, it’s these dang songs I want to put out into the world so I gotta go back into the studio and finish recording them.] Set a timer for 20 minutes and write or create without editing or judging yourself. Just get as much down as you can. When the timer ends, celebrate the progress.
Remember: Done is better than perfect. And finishing is the essential first step!
I first heard this quote from Brad Thor on this video clip from Jack Carr’s YouTube channel (it’s titled “Brad Thor’s Advice for Aspiring Writers”). He said it another way as well, “if the tap’s not open, the water don’t flow.”