SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT (1st Draft App)

Thirty years of writing experience have taught me a lot. Most of all, I’ve learned that starting is often the most important step. Things can change along the way, but getting the ball rolling is vital.

In Spring 2023, after first trying ChatGPT, I began imagining not only what I could create next—books, graphic novels, movies, games—but also the tools I wished I’d had. I wondered how they might have helped me back in my twenties, and how they could help me now.

Three ideas came to mind. Today, I am going to talk about one of those. 

I wouldn’t have even attempted to build an app without the emergence of AI into the public sphere. It had been brewing behind the scenes beyond my attention, while I was busy writing books and screenplays. I was used to my process. However, with AI, building an app based on what I, as a writer, like to do seemed like something from that very first conversation with GPT-4 that other people might like too. And not just writers, but anyone who has ever had an inclination to tell a story. 

As I kicked the idea around, I was surprised to hear so many people say that they had at least one story they’d always wanted to tell. They just never felt like they could do it or never had the time to actually write it, but the story idea was still in their head. (There’s a line often attributed to Christopher Hitchens about everyone having a book inside them. Before 2023, that might have been where many stories stayed.)

It’s 2025, and one thing hasn’t changed: we all have stories to tell. I’ve even toyed with writing about my own “writing years,” drawing parallels between life and the fiction I’ve put on paper. We’ll see.

Stories come in all shapes and sizes. After sharing the idea and listening to feedback, I decided to build a writing app—not only to help others tell their stories, but to help me tell mine. A tool made for the part I value most: the first draft. 

I love walking and hiking, letting my mind wander. I used to carry a notebook; eventually, I started recording voice notes on my phone. Being able to converse with an assistant that’s guided to stay focused on your story feels like the next level of the creative process—capturing ideas quickly, then shaping them without losing momentum.

1st Draft is my first take: a simple, writing-first app that helps you get that initial draft down—whether you need a gentle push to start or a nudge to finish. It’s designed to keep you in the story—no wandering, no research rabbit holes. The first draft is where energy lives, where discovery happens, where worlds take shape. This app is built to keep you in that space and on track.

Two weeks from today—Monday, September 29, 2025—I’ll release 1st Draft. I’ll share a little more here as we get closer. Thanks for following along.