--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first draft is usually junk. You have…" description: "\"The first draft is usually junk. You have to work on it seven to eight times.\" — Ravi Subramanian" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/ravi-subramanian-5634_draft_the-first-draft-is-usually-junk-you-have_7248.jpg" --- # The first draft is usually junk. You have to work on it… ![“The first draft is usually junk. You have to work on it seven to eight times.” quote by Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/ravi-subramanian-5634_draft_the-first-draft-is-usually-junk-you-have_7248.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/ravi-subramanian-5634_draft_the-first-draft-is-usually-junk-you-have_7248.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f4/ravi-subramanian-5634_draft_the-first-draft-is-usually-junk-you-have_7248.jpg) > “The first draft is usually junk. You have to work on it seven to eight times.” [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Initial attempts are often rough; iterative refinement is essential to achieve quality. **In simple terms:** First drafts need heavy revision. Key Takeaway Polish through multiple passes. Themes process perseverance quality iteration craft Mood determined reflective Type advice observation When to use this quote - writing a report - designing a prototype - coding a feature Key Concepts drafting editing feedback Practical Applications - schedule repeated reviews - use version control for incremental changes Questions to Reflect On - How many revisions are realistic for my project? - What metrics indicate a draft is ready for the next pass? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Draft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draft/) [Draft Usually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draft-usually-325669/) [Eight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eight/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Junk Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/junk-work-325670/) [Seven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seven/) [Seven Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seven-times/) [Usually Junk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usually-junk-325671/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [I get really tense during the first draft. Really tense. That's not great for my family, because the first draft usually takes about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/i-get-really-tense-during-the-first-draft-really-tense-that-s-not/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [I see myself as a first-draft writer, so when I sit down to write something, the first draft is usually pretty close to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/i-see-myself-as-a-first-draft-writer-so-when-i-sit-down-to-write-2/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [I don't write easily or rapidly. My first draft usually has only a few elements worth keeping. I have to find what those are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/i-don-t-write-easily-or-rapidly-my-first-draft-usually-has-only-a-few/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [I see myself as a first-draft writer, so when I sit down to write something, the first draft is usually pretty close to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/i-see-myself-as-a-first-draft-writer-so-when-i-sit-down-to-write/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [I am an obsessive rewriter, doing one draft and then another and another, usually five. In a way, I have nothing to say, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-am-an-obsessive-rewriter-doing-one-draft-and-then-another-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I eat seven, if not eight, times a day. Every two hours, I'm usually eating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-heath/i-eat-seven-if-not-eight-times-a-day-every-two-hours-i-m-usually/) [Phil Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-heath/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [When we first begin fighting for our dreams, we have no experience and make many mistakes. The secret of life, though, is to fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-we-first-begin-fighting-for-our-dreams-we-have-no-experience-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [With my first book, I was hired to write a draft of the script. I was so young and less confident. They put me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/with-my-first-book-i-was-hired-to-write-a-draft-of-the-script-i-was/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [You may look upon some providences once and again, and see little or nothing in them, but look "seven times," that is, meditate often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/you-may-look-upon-some-providences-once-and-again-and-see-little-or/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [FALL DOWN seven times…GET UP eight times..!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fall-down-seven-times-get-up-eight-times/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every year I go to Broadway to see a musical - I like the music. I saw 'Mamma Mia;' I saw 'Les Miserables;' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-nadal/every-year-i-go-to-broadway-to-see-a-musical-i-like-the-music-i-saw/) [Rafael Nadal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-nadal/) > [“seven times down, eight times up”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bradford/seven-times-down-eight-times-up/) [Chris Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bradford/) > [“Foe unvanquished, I will not perish in the field; I will be born again to take up the halberd seven more times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kuribayashi-tadamichi/foe-unvanquished-i-will-not-perish-in-the-field-i-will-be-born-again/) [Kuribayashi Tadamichi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kuribayashi-tadamichi/) > [“We only came close to dying six or seven times, which I thought was pretty good”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-jordon/we-only-came-close-to-dying-six-or-seven-times-which-i-thought-was-2/) [Rick Jordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-jordon/) ## More by Ravi Subramanian > [As authors, we know that it is very difficult to unleash one's creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/as-authors-we-know-that-it-is-very-difficult-to-unleash-one-s/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [When you write stories linking reality to a big storyline, people relate to it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/when-you-write-stories-linking-reality-to-a-big-storyline-people/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [It is important to send your work to as many publishers as possible. For every one publisher who may show interest in your work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/it-is-important-to-send-your-work-to-as-many-publishers-as-possible/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [While a lot of management development books try to teach you a lesson or give you a scenario of what corporate culture and work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/while-a-lot-of-management-development-books-try-to-teach-you-a-lesson/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [I read almost everything that comes my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/i-read-almost-everything-that-comes-my-way/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [To me, a good storyteller should be able to tell stories across genres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/to-me-a-good-storyteller-should-be-able-to-tell-stories-across-genres/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [To make time for writing, one has to take time out from somewhere. Obviously, a fair amount of time that you spend with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/to-make-time-for-writing-one-has-to-take-time-out-from-somewhere/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [In Indian companies, people aren't too worried about the pace of growth as long as you're setting up a business which will survive for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/in-indian-companies-people-aren-t-too-worried-about-the-pace-of/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [For me, writing is fun. The day I quit my job and take up writing full time, writing will become just another job. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/for-me-writing-is-fun-the-day-i-quit-my-job-and-take-up-writing-full/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [I cannot write in isolation. I write with people around me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/i-cannot-write-in-isolation-i-write-with-people-around-me/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [Saying 'I am not interested in politics' is no guarantee that people will leave you alone. The politically-inclined will single you out as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/saying-i-am-not-interested-in-politics-is-no-guarantee-that-people/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [Any author gets inspired by the experiences and events that happen to him or his immediate circle. While that's where the seed or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/any-author-gets-inspired-by-the-experiences-and-events-that-happen-to/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [There's a market for fiction based on financial services. People wanted me to write stories based on this sector. There's a gap in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/there-s-a-market-for-fiction-based-on-financial-services-people/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [For 'The Bestseller'... there was hardly any research, but I had to give each person a quirk and develop their stories so that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/for-the-bestseller-there-was-hardly-any-research-but-i-had-to-give/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [My understanding is that a book becomes a best seller only when it is pirated, sold on footpaths and at traffic lights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/my-understanding-is-that-a-book-becomes-a-best-seller-only-when-it-is/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) [Explore all 100 Ravi Subramanian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) ## More Draft quotes > [A lot of young guys coming up in this league, they're given the spotlight right away, depending on draft stature or whatever the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desean-jackson/a-lot-of-young-guys-coming-up-in-this-league-they-re-given-the/) [DeSean Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desean-jackson/) > [A draft doesn't produce the people we need to satisfy our real manpower shortage. We need specialists to keep our jets flying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-schroeder/a-draft-doesn-t-produce-the-people-we-need-to-satisfy-our-real/) [Patricia Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-schroeder/) > [That would just mean so much to be to be thought of as the best player in the draft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-bosa/that-would-just-mean-so-much-to-be-to-be-thought-of-as-the-best/) [Nick Bosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-bosa/) > [I read and write but my ideas don't go beyond the first draft. When they will, I will make it into a film probably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antara-mali/i-read-and-write-but-my-ideas-don-t-go-beyond-the-first-draft-when/) [Antara Mali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antara-mali/) > [I am a product of the draft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-inhofe/i-am-a-product-of-the-draft/) [James Inhofe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-inhofe/) > [I still wake up thinking about draft choices we should have made that would have impacted the franchise for a long time, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-still-wake-up-thinking-about-draft-choices-we-should-have-made-that/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [The first draft of 'Ex Machina' is extremely different than the finished film. That would be like 10% of the original draft stayed into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-garland/the-first-draft-of-ex-machina-is-extremely-different-than-the/) [Alex Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-garland/) > [At the combine and at my workouts, I tried to be the perfect player. I tried to promote my strengths and conceal my weaknesses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/at-the-combine-and-at-my-workouts-i-tried-to-be-the-perfect-player-i/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [There are some writers who are done when they finish a draft because they've thought it through beforehand. Whereas I'll finish a first draft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/there-are-some-writers-who-are-done-when-they-finish-a-draft-because/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [With my first book, I was hired to write a draft of the script. I was so young and less confident. They put me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/with-my-first-book-i-was-hired-to-write-a-draft-of-the-script-i-was/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [From watching the draft and following the NFL closely, anything can happen in the draft. But to me, it's not where I get drafted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saquon-barkley/from-watching-the-draft-and-following-the-nfl-closely-anything-can/) [Saquon Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saquon-barkley/) > [We just have fun with our NFL Draft coverage because we understand that it's a long process, and there can be technical glitches that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-eisen/we-just-have-fun-with-our-nfl-draft-coverage-because-we-understand/) [Rich Eisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-eisen/) > [“The first draft is always shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-first-draft-is-always-shit/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Every first draft is perfect, because all a first draft has to do is exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/every-first-draft-is-perfect-because-all-a-first-draft-has-to-do-is/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [Since January 2003, at the height of the debate on the possible unilateral strike against Iraq, I have advocated for a reinstatement of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/since-january-2003-at-the-height-of-the-debate-on-the-possible/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) [Browse all 544 Draft quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draft/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first draft is usually junk. 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