You've probably been here too. You're sitting at your table, the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the air. A rare moment of peace offers the perfect opportunity to create. Everything you need is right at your fingertips. And yet...
Your mind is blank.
As an Enneagram 1 and perfectionist, I live in this struggle! The pressure to produce something meaningful and beautiful from the get-go can be paralyzing. There's the fear of wasting time on something that isn't worth putting out into the world. When I'm illustrating, I find myself spiraling- wondering if I'll ever feel inspired to create again.
Until in walks the one thing that's consistently helped me break through these mental blocks and keep creating:
The rough draft.
However you create, rough drafts are necessary to move forward. They provide the freedom to fail because you're not aiming for perfection. You're simply putting something—anything—onto paper. It's a conversation with yourself that no one else ever needs to see, relieving the pressure to produce your newest masterpiece right out of the gate every time (wouldn't that be nice though!).
Whether you're sketching out new artwork ideas, rapidly ideating in crazy 8s design exercises, writing a piece, or scribbling down a travel itinerary, creating rough drafts is truly an art form. It's an essential element of the creative process that allows us to explore, make mistakes, and discover unexpected directions. Here are a couple of tips for refreshing your creativity and making rough drafts:
Change up your scenery
Where do you get inspired? Even just going for a walk or working somewhere new may help you get out of a funk. When I'm not feeling creative, I'll take a walk on the greenway behind my home, go to a local coffeeshop, or stop in the Patagonia store nearby. This almost always helps me get the creative juices flowing!
Set a time limit
In this time limit, maybe 5-10 minutes, don't create anything substantial. Everything should be a rough sketch of an idea. Don't shape it, just get it out on paper.
Create multiple versions of your draft
Even if you end up liking your first draft, create more. You never know what you'll find when you push yourself for the sake of creating. Depending on what you're creating, try for 1 draft per minute.
Analyze your rough drafts
Which ones are your favorites? Think through why. What elements do they have that you like? What do you dislike? Take notes. For your second round, create more iterations going off the elements you like. Here's where you start shaping rough drafts into refined drafts.
The beauty of a rough draft is that it doesn't have to be good—it just has to exist. It's the first step in a longer journey, a foundation on which you'll build and refine. It's a way to get your ideas out of your head and into the world, where you can see them, toss them around, and shape them into something better.
So the next time you find yourself staring at a blank page or canvas, remember the power in a rough draft. Give yourself permission to create something imperfect. Embrace the messiness, the false starts, and the wild ideas. You might be surprised at where they lead you.
Are rough drafts a part of your creative process?