✓ Accepted Answer
Honest take, because I wish someone had told me this earlier.
Everything you will read about draft will make it sound more complicated than it is. Here is what 8 years of working with work has actually taught me.
The people who struggle most are the ones who overthink the entry point.
What actually moved the needle for me: I stopped trying to understand everything before starting, and just committed to treating every mistake as data rather than failure. After that, went from amateur to regional finalist.
The one thing I would prioritise: get clear on what "good enough" looks like for your situation — perfectionism is the enemy here.
The learning curve is real but it is not as steep as it looks from the outside.
by amaowusu903