Broadly speaking, a ‘draft’ or ‘literary draft’ is a working manuscript that has to be edited/corrected and then finalized into a formal piece of writing. One may compose a first draft, followed by a second a third, until all changes have been made. In this article, the author attempts to explain the usage of the term ‘draft’ in Urdu literary research and editing as well the importance of the kinds of drafts. In addition, he explains the concept of a ‘literary draft' using examples from Urdu classics, such as Fasānah -e- `Ajā’ib and various Urdu Tazkiras (biographies of Urdu poets). The writer claims that this article is the first of its kind, with a detailed exposition and many useful instances.