There is a particular part of creating Reels that I would happily never do again.
It’s the part where I record myself talking for three minutes, say the same sentence four different ways, forget what I was saying halfway through, stare silently at the camera for an uncomfortable amount of time, and then have to edit all of that out later. 😂
Apparently Instagram understands.
Instagram is rolling out a new feature called First Draft that automatically takes your raw video clips and creates a rough first edit of your Reel. And unlike some of the content automation we’ve seen lately, this is actually the kind of shortcut I can get behind.
Because there’s a big difference between automating the busywork and automating the human part.
What Is Instagram First Draft?
Instagram announced First Draft on August 25. The new Reels feature can automatically trim clips, remove pauses and assemble your footage into an initial edit. Instagram says it can generate that first version in under 10 seconds.
It’s initially rolling out in the Instagram app on iPhone, so don’t panic if you don’t have it yet.
You can use First Draft after recording directly inside Instagram or select one or more existing videos from your Reels gallery. Instagram creates the rough cut, and then you can continue into the regular editor to change the timing, reorder clips, remove something it kept, restore something it cut, add music or text, and generally make the Reel feel like you again. All of First Draft’s edits are reversible.
Also, there’s one detail I didn’t expect: Instagram says First Draft does not use AI. It is an automated editing feature, but Instagram confirmed to The Verge that AI isn’t powering it.
In a year when everything seems to have AI slapped on the label, that almost feels rebellious.
This Is the Kind of Content Automation I Actually Like
There is a lot of conversation right now about using technology to create content for us. Write my caption. Make my video. Generate my image. Come up with my opinion. Create an avatar of me. Possibly just become me entirely so I can go take a nap.
First Draft isn’t doing that. It’s doing the boring part. Please remove the seven minutes where I’m staring at the camera trying to remember what I was saying. Yes. THAT I would like technology to handle.
You’re still choosing what to talk about and recording yourself. You are still deciding what the final Reel should feel like. Instagram is just helping you get through the tedious first round of editing faster.
And I think that’s an important distinction.
Easier Content Creation Makes Your Idea MORE Important
Here’s the part of this Instagram update that I think matters more than the actual editing feature.
The technical barrier to creating content keeps getting lower.
You don’t need expensive video equipment to make a Reel. And, you don’t need professional editing software. You don’t even necessarily need to know how to edit very well anymore. That’s fantastic for small businesses.
BUT it also means simply being able to make a Reel isn’t particularly special. Your advantage becomes the idea behind it. What are your customers searching for? Are there questions that you keep answering? What could you teach that would genuinely help someone? What story could you tell that makes people want to keep watching?
Instagram can remove your awkward pauses. It can’t decide what your business should be talking about in the first place.
Here’s How I’d Use First Draft for a Small Business
Let’s say you’re a seamstress and you’re working on altering a wedding dress. Throughout the process, you record a few clips: pinning the dress, adjusting the hem, working at the sewing machine, showing one tricky alteration and revealing the finished dress.
You could select those clips and let First Draft assemble the initial Reel instead of manually trimming every single piece of footage yourself. Great. But you still need the idea.
Maybe the Reel is “3 things a bride should know before getting her wedding dress altered.” Or “Why you shouldn’t wait until two weeks before your wedding to schedule alterations.” Or you tell the story of an alteration that looked impossible when the dress first came in.
That’s the content. First Draft is just helping you edit it. And I think that’s exactly how we should be thinking about content automation in general.
Automate the Busywork, Not the Human Part
I don’t think we need to be afraid of every tool that makes content creation easier. Some of these tools can genuinely save small business owners a ridiculous amount of time. The question I keep asking is: What part is the technology replacing?
If it’s trimming dead air, resizing something, organizing footage, transcribing a video or speeding up repetitive production work, fantastic. If it’s replacing your experience, perspective, stories, opinions or understanding of your customers, I’m much less interested. Those are increasingly the things that make your content worth consuming.
The easier it becomes for everyone to create content, the more important it becomes to have something worth saying.
Should You Try Instagram First Draft?
If it appears on your account, absolutely. But I wouldn’t hand it 37 clips from your most complicated Reel and hope for the best on day one. Start with something simple. Record a casual talking Reel or choose a handful of clips from something you’re already documenting. Let First Draft create the rough edit, then watch it back and adjust the pacing yourself.
Pay attention to what it removes. Put pauses back when they add personality or emphasis. Rearrange clips when the story makes more sense another way. Use it as your first draft, which is exactly what Instagram is calling it.
Not your final draft.
The Content Maven Takeaway
I’m actually excited about tools like this because one of the biggest reasons small business owners don’t create content consistently isn’t that they have nothing to say. It’s that creating the content can take forever.
If Instagram can take ten minutes of annoying editing off your plate, let it. Then spend that saved time figuring out what your audience actually wants to know. Because as content creation gets easier, good ideas aren’t becoming less valuable.
They’re becoming the whole point.
Want Better Ideas for Your Content?
If you’re spending less time editing Reels, let’s make sure you’re not spending the extra time staring at a blank Notes app wondering what to post. 😂 In The Daily Pour, I share social media updates like this one along with creator news, search strategy and practical content ideas you can actually apply to your business.
Subscribe to The Daily Pour and I’ll help you figure out what’s worth paying attention to, and what you can safely ignore.
Want More About Instagram?
Check out The Instagram Chronicles on my YouTube Channel!
FAQ About Instagram First Draft
What is Instagram First Draft?
Instagram First Draft is a new Reels editing feature that automatically trims selected video clips, removes pauses and creates an initial rough edit that you can continue editing before publishing.
Does Instagram First Draft use AI?
No. Although the feature automatically analyzes and edits footage, Instagram confirmed that First Draft does not use artificial intelligence.
How do I use First Draft on Instagram?
If the feature is available on your account, you can select one or more videos from your Reels gallery and tap First Draft, or record content using Instagram’s camera and select First Draft afterward. You can then review the automatically generated edit and continue editing it normally.
Is Instagram First Draft available on Android?
At launch, Instagram First Draft is rolling out first on iPhone. Instagram has not announced a specific Android release date.
Can I change the Reel Instagram creates with First Draft?
Yes. First Draft is meant to be a starting point, not a finished Reel. Its edits are reversible, and creators can reorder, remove and adjust clips before publishing.
