Writing Tip: Why Your First Draft Will Suck (& Why That's a Good Thing!)

Have you ever read your first writing draft and thought, “Wow, this is terrible”? Here’s a key writing tip: that’s completely normal.

It means you’re on the right track.

Every writer—novice or seasoned—creates rough, flawed first drafts. But here’s the twist: that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be.

Let’s dive into why your first draft will be bad—and why that’s actually a great thing.

#1 Writing Tip: No First Draft Is Perfect

Many believe that great writers effortlessly craft masterpieces on their first try. But that’s pure fantasy.

Even the best writers struggle. Ernest Hemingway rewrote the ending of A Farewell to Arms 39 times before he was satisfied.
Books aren’t born perfect. J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, and countless other authors go through multiple drafts.
A key writing tip: Perfection is the enemy of progress. Expecting flawlessness from the start only leads to frustration.

If literary giants need revisions, why should you be any different?

#2 Why Your First Draft Is Meant to Be Messy

Think of your first draft as a brainstorming session on paper. It’s raw, unpolished, and sometimes embarrassing—but that’s its purpose.

It’s where ideas take shape. Your brain spills out thoughts without overthinking.
There are no rules. No one will see it but you, so write without judgment.
It’s like prepping a meal. You don’t serve raw ingredients—you mix, adjust, and refine.

Your first draft isn’t meant to impress—it’s meant to exist so you can improve it later.

#3 A Brief Tale: Picasso’s Humble Origins

Creativity isn’t about getting it perfect the first time. Even Picasso, one of history’s greatest artists, didn’t produce instant masterpieces.

His notebooks were filled with rough sketches, scribbles, and experiments.
He refined his work through iteration, not instant perfection.
Writing follows the same process—your first draft is your sketch.

Like Picasso’s art, your writing takes shape through revision.

#4 The Right to Fail

Striving for perfection from the start can paralyse your creativity. Instead, embrace the right to fail.

Perfectionism leads to procrastination. If you wait for the perfect words, you’ll never finish.
Messy drafts free you from pressure. Write first, refine later.
Failure is part of the process. Every great writer was once a beginner.

The goal of a first draft isn’t perfection—it’s completion.

#5 Stephen King’s Writing Tip: Embrace the Mess

SStephen King, one of the most successful authors ever, embraces messy first drafts. He refers to this as the “closed-door” phase—writing without concern for how it looks.

King’s first drafts are long, messy, and unpolished.
He frequently cuts 10% or more in revisions.
His advice: “Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open.”

If even King starts with rough drafts, so can you.

#6 Editing: The Ultimate Superpower

This is where the real magic happens. Once your messy first draft exists, you can begin shaping it.

Editing polishes your thoughts into brilliance.
It helps eliminate fluff and strengthen ideas.
Think of it as sculpting—you chisel away the excess to reveal the masterpiece.

Your first draft isn’t the final product—it’s the foundation.

#7 Best Writing Tip? Just Start Writing

So, here’s the bottom line: your first draft will likely be terrible, and that’s perfectly okay. It serves as a crucial stepping stone, allowing you to gather raw material that you’ll later refine into something remarkable. Every writer experiences this journey, whether they’re novices or seasoned professionals.

Here’s one last writing tip: Writing isn’t about getting it right the first time—it’s about getting started. So go ahead, write that awful initial draft. Embrace it, because it’s essential for creating something truly remarkable.

And who can say? That messy draft might ultimately blossom into something beautiful.

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Have you ever looked back at a rough first draft and transformed it into something amazing? Share your revision success stories in the comments!Leave a comment below. We would love to know!

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Writing Tip: Why Your First Draft Will Suck (& Why That’s a Good Thing!)

#1 Writing Tip: No First Draft Is Perfect

#2 Why Your First Draft Is Meant to Be Messy