Don't Worry About Perfection
Why Your First Draft Is Supposed to Stink—and Why That’s a Good Thing
If you’ve ever tried to write a book, you know the first draft is a beast. It's messy, it rambles, and sometimes it feels like your story is actively fighting against you.
Here’s the good news: your first draft WILL STINK. The good news is, its messiness is a vital part of the process. The most important thing about your first draft isn’t perfection—it’s getting it done.
Here’s why you should embrace the chaos and stop worrying about your first draft.
1. You Can’t Edit What Doesn’t Exist
Perfectionism is the enemy of progress. If you’re constantly editing as you write, you’ll never finish. The beauty of the first draft is that it doesn’t need to be polished—it just needs to exist. Your job is to pour your ideas onto the page, however imperfectly. Think of it as creating raw clay. Without it, there’s nothing to sculpt into the masterpiece you envision.
2. Writing Is Discovery
Even the most carefully outlined stories will evolve as you write. Characters take on lives of their own, subplots weave their way into the narrative, and themes emerge that you didn’t plan. A first draft is your chance to explore without judgment. Let the story surprise you. It’s in this discovery process that the real magic happens.
3. Every Author’s First Draft Stinks
You’re not alone. Stephen King, Margaret Atwood, and every other author you admire started with a messy first draft. King famously calls his first drafts “closed doors,” meaning they’re not meant to be shared or judged. If the greats can give themselves permission to write something awful at first, so can you.
4. It’s About Momentum, Not Perfection
Finishing a first draft is a major milestone. It means you’ve turned your idea into something tangible. That momentum is invaluable. Once you have a complete draft, you can start revising, rewriting, and fine-tuning. But without that initial step, there’s nothing to build on.
5. Imperfection Is Where the Fun Lives
There’s a certain freedom in knowing that your first draft doesn’t need to be good. You can take risks, write badly, and let your creativity run wild. It’s an opportunity to play. Some of your most brilliant ideas may emerge from what feels like chaos.
6. Your Future Self Will Thank You
When you reach the end of your first draft, something magical happens: you’ll see the potential in your work. Sure, there will be plot holes, clunky dialogue, and awkward pacing. It may even feel embarrassing just to look at it, so cover your eyes, read through you ringers and brace yourself!
Your first draft is the hardest part of the hike... and so worth it when you complete it.