The "Perfect" First Draft

Writers love to wait for the “right” moment. The right inspiration. The right energy. The right opening line that finally feels worthy of the story. What they’re really waiting for, though, are the perfect conditions—and the perfect words.

As a recovering perfectionist, I feel this deep in my bones. I used to chase that same sense of “just right” in every part of my life. A new planner. A new water bottle. Anything that made me feel like I had control—because I definitely didn’t as a working mom trying to fit both work and snack duty (so many snacks!) into a single day.

But at some point, I stopped chasing perfect. I started living and just getting things done. I wish that for you, too.

Because here’s the truth: if you keep waiting for the perfect first draft—the perfect anything—you’ll wait forever.

There is no perfect first draft. There’s only the one you start.

Every published novel began as something far messier than its author will ever admit: tangled plots, flat characters, entire scenes that make zero sense. But that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be. A first draft isn’t meant to shine—it’s meant to exist.

I’ve seen too many writers stall out because they think the words have to come out perfectly. They don’t. They just have to come out. It’s called a “vomit draft” for a reason. Get the words down however you can. Let it be bad. Let it be clunky and uneven and full of promise.

Because you can’t revise a blank page—but you can always fix a messy one.

The perfect draft doesn’t exist. But the finished one does. And that’s the one that changes everything.

Inside An Editor’s Brain Bulletin Board

Here’s the good writing news from my lovely subscribers for this week!

“Years ago, between jobs, I had a story idea for a novel and took a couple of creative writing classes. Overwhelmed by how to get my story written, my brilliant husband said, just schedule it for when you are most productive. Write everyday and just keep at it. 18 months later, I drafted an entire novel. Fast forward, my beloved amazing husband died after surviving a fiery small plane accident. 2 years after, I felt called to write my memoir, Forever Fly Free: One Woman’s Story of Resilience & the Power of Hope and Love. What he and I went through when he survived with terrible burn injuries but eventually died. How I grieved, healed, learning to thrive, and finding love again. Amazingly, I wrote it in 1 year - it flowed out of me. I found an agent and an editor and publisher who fell in love with my story. Life happened - I just didn’t know my memoir was what I’d get published first. Icing on the cake - my publisher will donate some of the proceeds to the charity of my choice! My goal with the book is to pay it forward for the many acts of kindness I received during the darkest chapter of my life.” 💗

- Jenny Brandemuehl

Share your own good writing news.

Hit reply on this email and send me your good news or good vibes. I’ll spotlight a few in a future issue.

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