The first draft of a novel serves as the foundational scaffolding of a story, containing the essential elements such as the main plot arc, point of view, characters, setting, and dialogue, though none need to be fully polished or finalized. Writers are encouraged to include major story events and character motivations while leaving room to revise or add details later, using notes and placeholders to maintain writing momentum. This approach views the first draft as a discovery process rather than a finished product, supporting subsequent revisions that deepen and refine the narrative.
https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/what-makes-a-good-first-draft-of-a-novel