Writing Advice: Your first draft will suck...and that's fine

 After more years than I can count on my fingers, I’ve finally finished my first book.

And when I say your first draft and your final version will look nothing alike, I mean it.

When I first started learning how to write, I used a script-style format because I thought it’d be easier. No pesky descriptions, no imagery to worry about. (In hindsight, discovering I have aphantasia would’ve explained a lot.)

Back then, I was so proud of my first draft, (as you should be!) that I’d get genuinely upset when people told me it wasn’t good. (I was a kid, and I thought I’d nailed it.)

It wasn’t until I rewrote that story that I thought, “Wait... this new version is actually better.” Fast forward through decades of repeating that process, and I finally reached a point where I had to force myself to stop rewriting and just let the story be.

Here’s the truth: writing is a skill. Like any skill, you only get better the more you do it.

Your first draft? It’s wonderful. Not because it’s perfect, it won’t be, but because you finished it. And that’s something to be proud of. Most people never even complete one draft, so you’re already ahead.

The Difference Between Beginners and Experienced Writers:

• A beginner looks at their work and thinks, “This is done. Nothing to fix.”
• An experienced writer looks at their manuscript and always finds something to add, cut, or improve.

Accepting that your first draft isn’t your best work is the first step to becoming a better writer. Spotting flaws, understanding what doesn’t work, and learning how to fix it...that’s where growth happens.

But what if you’re stuck? What if you know your draft isn’t working but can’t figure out why? Get a buddy to read it. Fresh eyes catch things you’ve missed. Just be ready because feedback can be brutal, and that’s a good thing. Honest critique helps you grow faster than anything else. 

The same logic applies to stories, not just drafts. Your first story won’t be as good as your second, and your third will be even better. That’s something I’ve learned as I prepare to publish my debut novel. I already know my next book will be stronger, and I’m still proud of this one.

Keeping that first book, flaws and all, is crucial to me. It’s a record of how far I’ve come. When I look back, I’ll see not just mistakes but growth.

So, if you look back at your first draft and cringe a little?

Good.

It means you’ve grown.