“Every first draft is perfect because all a first draft has to do is exist.” ~~Jane Smiley
This quote is perfect for so many writers, including myself. I think we seem to forget that our work does not have to be, and isn’t going to be, perfect on the first try. I see so many writers on social media, whether it’s a Facebook group or the NaNoWriMo forums, complaining about how horrible their projects are. But, the first draft is just the starting point to what a fantastic novel can be. You can’t just slap a first draft on KDP and expect to be a best seller. It takes a lot of work to polish and perfect your book for readers to enjoy.
My first novel has gone through 10 drafts of just my edits, including beta readers and critique partners. And, it still needs to go through professional editing and proof reading before it’s good enough to be released to the world. It’s a lot of work but it’s come a long way in the past almost 5 years. I don’t think I’d be able to look at my first draft now. I found a partial story from high school and just cringed at every word.
So, when you have a low moment, just remember. As long as you’re writing, you’re making progress. Editing your work will make it better. It’s all part of the process and it will be well worth it in the end.