Why your writing needs to suck.
Yup. I said it. Your writing needs to suck.
At least to a degree.
Yes there are countless established authors out there who can churn out a banger first go but let’s be honest… 98% of us do NOT fit into that category.
It would be nice if we did, though.
But alas, the majority of us are stuck with a shitshow of a first draft and I am here to tell you how that is perfectly OK!
Not only is having a shitshow of a rough draft ok but it’s encouraged. Hell, have as many shitshow drafts as you need to GET IT DONE!
Too many writers get hung up on making everything that flows from their fingertips be perfect the first go that it causes a whole host of issues down the line.
Here’s my though process on this topic and the motto that I live by.
The motto: "You can edit a shitty page but you can’t edit a blank one.”
The thought process:
I like to approach my writing in multiple stages. The rough draft, zero draft, or whatever you want to call it, is ME telling MYSELF the story. It’s the time I allow the most freedom of discovery and allow the words to just flow, however they need to. (because remember the motto - i can edit later)
Then I take that likely pile of horse manure rough draft where I was just telling myself the story and I work on the second draft. I like to think of this draft as ME making the story MAKE SENSE and that is all. I polish up that giant turd of a first draft to where the story I told myself can come together and make sense.
Then I use the story that is making much more sense to craft my third draft. This is where I like to look at it as ME telling A FRIEND the story. Someone I trust. Someone who I know will accept it for what it is in it's current state. This means getting it to the point where I feel somewhat comfortable with the style, the prose, the plots, enough to share it with a close friend. (This is where alpha readers come in for me.)
Then I use that draft, along with alpha feedback, and create however many more drafts I need to feel good about it. There is no magic number. Trying to force a magic number here would be absolute ridiculous and end up holding you back. Once I have it more polished to my liking I invite beta readers and keep going through the process of feedback, edits, feedback edits, until I am happy with it as a whole.
Now this is where some writers get hung up and cannot decide “when the story is done” and keep tinkering and I have tons of thoughts and advice on that one. I will probably write another post soon about what to do if you find yourself in that situation often. So stay tuned for that one!
The whole point I am trying to make here throughout this entire process is that it would be impossible for me to get to the final draft if I am too scared to write the shitshow one. Hence how process follows motto. I can edit it a shitty page but I can’t edit a blank one. If I never take the risk and at least tell myself the story then how could I ever get to the point where I can edit it to make it better?
So be gentle with yourself. You’re going to write some really questionable stuff. But that is OK! If there is one thing EVERY SINGLE AUTHOR agrees on is this… the more you write, the better you get… naturally. Over time you will find the “shitshow draft” is less of a shitshow and there will be less work between steps of telling yourself the story and making it make sense. But that comes with time and practice. You can’t get that if you don’t give it - meaning if you don’t put in the effort of practicing you won’t improve no matter how much time you spend “thinking“ about writing.
HOT TAKE - thinking about writing isn’t helping you write. You actually have to… write.
I promise it gets easier. It gets better. Give yourself the time and the practice. Most authors say you need to get about 4-5 books under your belt before things start to actually be good. I don’t necessarily agree that is the case for everyone but for some, it might be. But again… go back to motto… how could get they get 4-5 books under their belt to start writing better stories IF THEY NEVER WRITE THE SHITSHOWS?
Let it suck. Let it be the worst it can be. For the love of all things holy, just fucking write.