Many writers struggle with the feeling that their work isn’t good enough. The fear of writing something clumsy or ineffective can be paralyzing, leading to procrastination or endless tinkering with a single sentence. However, the truth is that all great writing starts as a rough draft.

The poet Louise Bogan described perfectionism as a knife—a sharp, unforgiving force that can kill creativity before it has a chance to grow. If you demand perfection from the very first sentence, you risk never writing anything at all. The most successful writers understand that bad writing is a necessary step toward good writing.

The Value of a Messy First Draft

No writer, no matter how experienced, produces flawless work on the first try. Even legendary authors write clunky, awkward drafts. Virginia Woolf spoke of searching for the “diamonds in the dustheap”—recognizing that much of her early writing was unpolished, but hidden within it were valuable pieces worth refining.

Acclaimed poet Ruth Padel compares the writing process to sculpting:

1. Gather raw material – Keep a notebook of interesting words, images, and ideas.

2. Shape a rough draft – Let the ideas flow freely, without worrying about structure or elegance.

3. Step back and revise – Begin chipping away unnecessary words and refining the core message.

4. Fine-tune the rhythm – Read the work aloud to ensure it sounds natural and impactful.

5. Polish every detail – Examine each word, punctuation mark, and line break for precision.

   
   

Exercise 1: The Imperfect Story

This exercise forces you to embrace imperfection and push past the fear of writing badly.

1. Set a timer for 15 minutes.

2. Write a short story or scene where everything goes wrong—not just for the characters, but in the writing itself. Use clichés, awkward phrasing, and ridiculous dialogue on purpose.

3. When time is up, read it aloud. You might discover surprising moments of brilliance hidden in the mess.

   
   

The goal is to let go of perfectionism and realize that even flawed writing can have potential.

Rewriting: The Real Secret of Great Writing

Many people assume that prolific writers like Joyce Carol Oates produce masterpieces effortlessly. With over eighty books to her name, she is often called a natural writer. Yet Oates insists that her process is far from easy. She starts stories over and over, making notes and revisions, sometimes drafting a thousand pages for a book that will eventually be just 250 pages long.

The secret to great writing isn’t talent alone—it’s persistence and revision. The real work happens in rewriting, where ideas are clarified, sentences are sharpened, and the true heart of a story begins to emerge.

Exercise 2: The Three-Draft Challenge

1. Write a paragraph (at least five sentences) about a simple moment—someone drinking coffee, walking in the rain, or waiting for a bus.

2. Rewrite the paragraph in three different ways:

   • Version 1: Remove half the words while keeping the meaning intact.

   • Version 2: Add rich sensory details to make the scene more vivid.

   • Version 3: Change the emotional tone—make it joyful, eerie, or suspenseful.

3. Compare the versions and reflect on how small changes create a big impact.

   
   

By practicing revision in a focused way, you'll train yourself to refine without obsessing over perfection.