The first draft of anything is shit.

The line is commonly invoked to normalize imperfection in early drafts and to emphasize revision as the real engine of good writing. Its bluntness underscores a practical, workmanlike view of craft: initial attempts are often messy, overlong, or unclear, and only through rewriting does a piece acquire shape, precision, and style. Whether or not Hemingway said it, the sentiment aligns with a broader modernist ethic of disciplined editing and the separation of drafting from polishing. As advice, it reduces shame and procrastination by reframing a “bad” first draft as a necessary stage rather than a verdict on talent.