We Built the First Draft of TellaDraft
What I learned from two intense weeks building TellaDraft and why this is just the beginning.
A few weeks ago, I kicked off a Discovery Sprint. If you’re not familiar with that term, it’s basically an intense, focused build period where a designer and developer take all your ideas, frameworks, scribbles, and strategies and try to turn them into a real, working product.
I knew this sprint would move things forward. I just didn’t realize how far.
Many founders walk away from the two weeks with a Figma mockup, essentially, a clickable “idea board” of what their product could look like someday.
But instead, I was handed a “cutting-edge, technologically-functional prototype.” Not just pictures, but actual screens, real interactions, and a product we could already start testing. It was very exciting to say the least!
What We Built (and What We Learned)
The prototype lets you walk through TellaDraft’s question flow that takes you from “I have an idea” to “I can see my book taking shape.” And even though it’s early, the engine works. It gathers answers, organizes them, and structures them into something meaningful.
Now, it’s not writing a 20,000-word book yet. When we asked it to generate a draft, it simply listed out the questions with shortened answers. But that’s actually a major milestone because it proves the core system is functional. And I know that as we continue building, the LLM will eventually be able to assemble those responses into a fully formed manuscript.
One of the most exciting takeaways? We realized we can simplify the entire process. Even in this early stage, it was clear that users don’t need as many steps as we thought. That insight alone will make the MVP faster, more intuitive, and more powerful and it’s exactly why prototypes are so valuable.
Early Proof with Our Test Group
The other big milestone is that we’re ready to put TellaDraft in people’s hands. Starting this week, a dozen entrepreneurs and thought leaders will get access to the prototype and start giving us real feedback: what they love, what they find confusing, and what they want next.
This is one of the most important parts of building something new. It’s how we validate that there’s real demand.
A Big Milestone: TellaDraft Goes Live
One of the most exciting moments of this entire journey happened just a few days after our sprint wrapped up: Chad Pytel, the CEO of thoughtbot, and our senior designer Kevin spent an hour and a half doing a live rapid prototyping session on LinkedIn and they used TellaDraft as their example.
It was surreal watching them walk through our concept in real time and show the audience just how far we’d come in two weeks. And it’s not stopping there, on October 16th, our developer Louis will do the same thing live, building on the prototype even further.
What’s Next
Now that I have a working prototype in hand, my focus is shifting to the next steps: building traction, refining the product for MVP, and validating beta feedback.
I feel like we’re standing at the start of something extraordinary. And the most exciting part? This isn’t just a tool for “writers.” It’s for anyone with a story, a method, a message and anyone who’s ever said, “I want to write a book someday, but I don’t know where to start.”
Want to Be Part of the Story?
We’re just getting started and I’d love for you to be part of this next chapter. If you’re curious about TellaDraft or want to join a future round of beta testing, sign up for the waitlist here.
The dream is simple: make writing a book as easy as having a conversation. And after this sprint, I can confidently say we’re closer than ever.
On Fridays, We Write. ✍️
If you’ve been wanting to write your book, this is your invitation.
Join my free Friday writing Zoom with a group of women doing it alongside you.
Fridays at 8:00 a.m. Central Time.
Click here to join.