Write a faster first draft from source pages without losing context

Most first drafts aren’t slow because writing is hard. They’re slow because your attention keeps fragmenting.

You read a source, switch tabs, paste a quote, lose your place, rewrite, go back, and repeat. The workflow cost is bigger than the writing cost.

A faster method is to draft from source pages in one pass, with lightweight structure and quick rewrite loops.

Step 1: Set a clear draft skeleton first

Before collecting anything, create 4–6 section headers for your draft. Example:

• problem
• key points
• practical steps
• caveats
• next action

This gives every source snippet a destination.

Step 2: Capture only high-value highlights

As you review pages, capture only content that does one of these jobs:

• explains the core problem;
• provides evidence;
• clarifies a practical step;
• adds a meaningful caveat.

If a highlight doesn’t support one of those, skip it.

Step 3: Convert highlights into working prose

For each highlight:

1. summarize in one sentence;
2. rewrite in your article voice;
3. place it under the correct section.

With Browsely, you can do this directly on the page: summarize, rewrite, and move forward without opening a separate AI tab.

Step 4: Draft section-by-section, not line-by-line

Don’t chase perfect wording early. Finish rough sections quickly, then tighten.

A good sequence:

• build section bullets from source summaries;
• turn bullets into plain paragraphs;
• smooth transitions between sections;
• do one final clarity edit.

Step 5: Run a short quality pass

Before calling the draft done, check:

• does each section answer a clear reader need?
• are claims specific and supportable?
• did you remove repetitive source language?
• is the next action clear?

This keeps the draft practical, not generic.

Common bottlenecks (and fixes)

Bottleneck: Too many sources open at once
Fix: Process 3–5 tabs, then synthesize immediately.

Bottleneck: Over-quoting source text
Fix: Summarize first, then rewrite for clarity.

Bottleneck: Endless polishing
Fix: Timebox first draft quality to “clear and useful,” then ship to feedback.

Why this workflow works

You keep context anchored to the source while producing real draft output in parallel. That reduces tab switching, lowers cognitive load, and gets you to a complete first draft faster.

Bottom line

The fastest first draft is not the one with the most sources. It’s the one where each source contributes directly to a structured section and a clear reader outcome. Stay in-browser, write in passes, and optimize for momentum.

CTA: On your next article, timebox 30 minutes for a source-to-draft sprint using this method. You’ll likely finish with a full first draft, not scattered notes.