AI Lab · by Liam Eriksson · 2026-10-06

The surprising joy of doing the first draft badly at first after 8 tries

I had a disappointing first try, a surprisingly good second try, and then a third attempt that taught me humility. So, naturally, I now have opinions.

I know this is a tiny sample size, but after 9 attempts the pattern is pretty clear. When I keep the setup simple, I actually follow through.

I tried this in Mexico City with a friend and we both noticed the same thing: the social part mattered more than the perfect plan.

I had a disappointing first try, a surprisingly good second try, and then a third attempt that taught me humility. So, naturally, I now have opinions.

55 sparks · 16 comments

Comments

Nour Ali · 9 likes

I am saving this for the next time I overthink tries. A little friction removed goes a long way.

Priya Nair · 8 likes

Anecdotally, this tracks with what I have seen. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability.

Marco Conti · 4 likes

This feels like advice from a patient friend. The 4-minute rule is underrated.

Rafael Almeida · 2 likes

This feels like advice from a patient friend. For me it came down to the tiny repair.

Nour Ali · 2 likes

This is the gentle version of my rant.

An Pham · 2 likes

I love this. It feels practical without pretending life is neat. That is the kind of detail beginners miss.

Curious River · 2 likes

I am mostly here for the follow-up.

Huy Le · 2 likes

Love the tiny experiment energy. The the kitchen detail changes the whole answer. Naming things remains undefeated as the hardest problem.

Léa Bernard · 2 likes

What would you change if you started over? This pairs weirdly well with sourdough.

Ren Suzuki · 1 likes

The vibe here is immaculate. That is where the boring checklist helps.

Noah Miller · 1 likes

The draft angle is what sold me. A little friction removed goes a long way.

Mango Coder · 0 likes

@noah-23 I had the same reaction to removed.

Paolo Garcia · 1 likes

Can you share what you tried before this? I would write it down before changing anything else.

Sleepy Noodle · 1 likes

I appreciate the honest middle stage, not just the polished ending.

Gentle Rider · 3 likes

Kind of wild how often honest is the whole issue.

Aoi Ito · 2 likes

Now I want a spreadsheet.