diff --git a/src-cljs/main.cljs b/src-cljs/main.cljs
index df520c8..a82e748 100644
--- a/src-cljs/main.cljs
+++ b/src-cljs/main.cljs
@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@
   (anim ($ :body) {:scrollTop ((js->clj (.offset $id)) "top")} 500))
 
 ; set focus to the draft textarea (if there is one)
-(.focus $draft)
+(when $draft
+  (do
+    (val $draft "")
+    (.focus $draft)))
 
 ; show the preview & publish buttons as soon as the user starts typing.
 (.keypress $draft
diff --git a/src/NoteHub/views/pages.clj b/src/NoteHub/views/pages.clj
index 44b4c5c..f7c3170 100644
--- a/src/NoteHub/views/pages.clj
+++ b/src/NoteHub/views/pages.clj
@@ -63,10 +63,13 @@
                          (form-to [:post "/post-note"]
                                   (hidden-field :session-key (get-flash-key))
                                   (hidden-field {:id :session-value} :session-value)
-                                  (text-area {:class :max-width} :draft)
+                                  (text-area {:class :max-width} :draft "Loading...")
                                   [:div#buttons.hidden
-                                   (submit-button {:style "float: left" :class :button :id :publish-button} "Publish")
-                                   [:button#preview-button.button {:type :button :style "float: right"} "Preview"]])]
+                                   (submit-button {:style "float: left"
+                                                   :class :button 
+                                                   :id :publish-button} "Publish")
+                                   [:button#preview-button.button {:type :button 
+                                                                   :style "float: right"} "Preview"]])]
                         [:div#preview-start-line.hidden]
                         [:article#preview]))