What is The First Draft of a Novel?

What is a first draft? What do you need to know in order to start writing?

As I mentioned in an earlier post. Dwight V. Swain, in his book “Techniques of the Selling Writer,” a book you should have, says that all you need in your story outline is:

A focal character
A situation in which the character is involved
An objective the character wishes to obtain
An opponent who strives against the character
A potential climactic disaster on which hinges the resolution.

Otherwise, writing goes from fun...