Sometimes you need to start with a blank canvas rather than AI generation—whether you're adapting an existing spec you have elsewhere, prefer to write manually, or want complete control from the start. Holly makes it easy to create specifications from scratch and add content at your own pace.
Starting from Draft
From the main Class Specs dashboard, click "Create new" in the top-right above the main class specs table. Select "Start from draft" to open up the creation modal.
Setting Up Your Draft
To get started, you'll need to provide:
Job Title (required): The name of the position you're creating
You can then choose how to populate the specification content:
Enter Manually:
Start with completely blank sections and type directly into each field.
The modal dynamically displays fields matching your jurisdiction's specification template.
The platform will use the content pasted into each fields as the initial version of the document from which to track changes.
Upload File:
Provide an existing draft as a PDF, and Holly will use AI to parse the content into the appropriate template sections.
The platform will use the content from the PDf as the initial version of the document from which to track changes.
After either entering the fields or uploading a file, you will need to input the salary range. The modal asks for minimum and maximum compensation, in either annual, monthly, bi-weekly, or hourly units and allows for an unlimited number of decimal points.
Once you click "Upload," Holly generates a draft using the information that you entered.
When to use File Upload vs. Manual Draft
Start manually when you:
Do not have a pre-existing file to adapt from another source
Have a limited amount of initial context (i.e., only have text for one or two fields)
Have a document, but it's not structured in a way that maps easily to your template
Want precise control over which content goes into each section
Are creating a brief or partial specification to expand later
Upload a file when you:
Have an existing specification or draft document in PDF format
Have a complete or near-complete document that generally follows a class spec format
Need to digitize legacy specifications from your archive
Want AI assistance in organizing unstructured content into the proper template sections
Next Steps
Once you've added your content, you can:
Edit and refine: Click into any section to add, revise, or restructure content
Use AI selectively: Regenerate individual sections or get suggestions for improvements
Review quality metrics: Identify sections that may need more detail or clarity
Benchmark against comparables: See how your specification compares to similar positions
Share for review: Send your draft to stakeholders for feedback and collaboration
Track changes: Monitor edits and revisions as your specification evolves
Need more guidance?
Check out our related articles:
Reading and Understanding a Specification: Learn how to navigate Holly's editor and specification structure
Advanced Editing: Detailed instructions on editing techniques, AI regeneration, and change tracking