Editing and Formatting | 04 June 2025

Write Ugly, Revise Brutally, Repeat Forever: The Only Real Drafting Advice

Michael Adams

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We have all been fed this lie that great writers sit down, fingers fly, and a masterpiece rolls out. That’s not what it is. Even the best novels you have ever read started as chaos. If you are looking for real book writing tips, here’s one: nobody writes a great first draft.

Stephen King, Zadie Smith, and Neil Gaiman — they all revise like mad. One of the most famously revised books is J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”. Originally published in 1937, Tolkien later made significant changes to the “Riddles in the Dark” chapter to align with The Lord of the Rings, altering Gollum’s behavior and the nature of the One Ring. Writing a novel or nonfiction book is about layers, not lightning bolts.

Writers who chase perfection from the first sentence end up stuck, frustrated, or worse — they never finish. The truth? Your ugly first draft is your real MVP. It’s not supposed to shine. It just needs to exist.

After some time, you will figure out what works best and what you shouldn’t do while writing that makes your work look unappealing, and you keep revising it for improvement. The process can become endless, and your book may not get published. Let’s talk about how to write a book so that it doesn’t look ugly, and more about what to avoid.

Key Takeaways

1. First Drafts Are Essential – Don’t aim for perfection in your first draft. Let it be messy, raw, and unfiltered. This version gets your ideas out of your head and onto the page, which is the most important step in learning how to write a book or novel. You can’t revise what you haven’t written.
2. Perfectionism Kills Growth – Chasing the perfect sentence from the start leads to paralysis. Stop overthinking. Just write. Writers who obsess over grammar and structure early on rarely finish. Lower your expectations and raise your output. You can always fix bad writing, but you can’t fix an empty page.
3. Revision Makes Writing Better – Revision isn’t about tinkering. It’s a full-on restructuring, reimagining, and rewriting process. Ruthlessly cut what doesn’t serve your message, reorder ideas, and clarify your voice. This is how premium book writing helps make a mediocre book memorable. You should do this too.
4. Do Repetition – Writing is cyclical. You draft, revise, and repeat—often multiple times. This repetition teaches you more than any writing course or ebook ever could. When you begin writing a book, start with a system you can repeat forever. That’s how consistency becomes quality, and eventually, mastery.
5. Take Help from Professionals – Even if you write solo, you don’t have to go it alone. Taking feedback from professional writers can accelerate your progress. A second set of eyes can help spot weak points, restructure flow, and bring your book to life without losing your voice.
6. Good or Bad, Reach the End – The best advice on how to write a novel or book? Finish it. Aim for completion over flawlessness. Once it’s written, you can improve it. But without a finished draft, there’s nothing to polish. Accept the ugly, revise with guts, and keep moving forward. That’s the only writing strategy that never fails.

What “Writing Ugly” Means

It means letting the words fall out. Do not worry about spelling, grammar, sentence structure, or even coherence. It means writing like nobody’s watching. If you want to know how to write a novel that doesn’t stay trapped in your head forever, you need to get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Here’s how to stop writing horribly:

• Set a Timer – Write for 20–30 minutes without stopping. No edits.
• Use Placeholders – Can’t remember a fact or name? Just type to look it up later.
• Talk to Yourself on the Page – “Okay, this part sucks, but I think the character is mad about something… Maybe her mom left?”
• Forget the Rules. Grammar? Nah. Just get the ideas down.

Being sloppy for the sake of it is a bad idea. Let your creativity show up without judgment. Your first draft isn’t a book. It’s a raw material stash, and that’s enough.

This Matters More Than You Think!

Too many would-be authors get stuck because they think they need to start strong. But the pressure to write perfectly on the first try kills momentum. That’s why one of the most powerful book-writing tips is this: lower the bar.

Give yourself permission to write terribly. You can’t fix what isn’t on the page. The betterment comes with revision, and you can’t revise a blank page.

This is important even if you are hiring the best book-writing help. Services of writing are easy to collaborate with, but everything will go wrong if your raw thoughts aren’t there on paper to share with them. Getting them out, no matter how messy, gives your ghostwriter or editor something real to work with.

Nobody’s Born a Writer, They Become One.

No one comes into the world writing from their mother’s womb. Everybody learns—usually the hard way. Sooner or later, every writer realizes that writing is a skill that can be learned. It’s practice, patience, and revision. Even the big-name bestselling manuscripts are not their first draft.

They figured out their audience, their process, and how to tell their story. They weren’t chosen—they chose to keep going like Agatha Christie, the writer of “Murder on the Orient Express,” who was dyslexic and struggled with spelling and reading. After facing rejection and self-doubt, she kept writing anyway.

Her persistence paid off—she went on to become one of the best-selling authors in history, with over 2 billion books sold worldwide. She didn’t start perfectly. She started imperfect and didn’t stop, and neither should you.

Do a Revision with Honesty and Clarity

Once you have got your bad draft, now it’s time to rip it apart. Editing isn’t about tweaking commas. Not yet. It’s about asking big questions:

• Does this make sense?
• Is this what I really meant to say?
• Is this the right structure?
• Do I even need this chapter?

This is what we mean by revise brutally. Don’t get sentimental. If a line doesn’t serve the story or idea, cut it. If a paragraph feels forced, rewrite it. Or If a whole chapter is boring, trash it. Or overhaul it.

Try this revision process:

1. Take a Break – Let the draft rest for a few days.
2. Print It Out – Read like a reader, not the writer.
3. Highlight the Best Parts – Keep what resonates.
4. Cut the Fluff – If it doesn’t move the piece forward, it goes.
5. Reorganize – Move sections, reorder paragraphs.
6. Rewrite – Not just polish, sometimes you need to reimagine.

The truth is, writing a book is 80% rewriting. That’s the secret behind every polished piece you admire. It wasn’t born that way. It was carved out of confusion.

Writing Is Repetition

You don’t become a great writer by writing one great thing. You become a great writer by writing a lot, rewriting more, and doing it again.

When you are learning book writing, it helps to know that even seasoned authors go through this cycle endlessly:

• First Draft – messy, rushed, alive
• Second Draft – structured, clearer, still flawed
• Third Draft – tighter, more intentional
• Fourth Draft – polished, powerful

Every pass makes your book better, and eventually, you reach a point where it’s not perfect, but it’s so good. If you are looking for help with custom book writing, you should still expect to go through this loop. They can refine your work or write it with you, but they still use this method behind the scenes. There are no shortcuts, just better tools and support.

Practical Drafting Habits You Can Use

Here’s a rough system that works:

Ugly First Drafts Are Essential

The first draft isn’t supposed to be good. It’s supposed to exist. Writing without editing lets your creativity flow freely, unlocking the heart of your story. Don’t worry about plot holes or awkward phrasing.

You are learning by actually writing it. Many authors, including Anne Lamott in Bird by Bird, call their first attempts “shitty first drafts.” That’s normal. That’s the process. Get it out. Clean it up later. Every masterpiece begins in a mess.

Perfectionism Kills Progress

Perfectionism feels productive, but it’s usually a trap. Trying to craft the perfect sentence on the first try often leads to procrastination. Instead, write fast and sloppily. Change it later. This is how you learn how to begin writing a book—by pushing past the fear of being wrong.

According to Psychology Today, perfectionism can severely hinder creativity and lead to burnout. Drop the pressure. Embrace imperfection. Momentum beats perfection every time. You can polish later, but you can’t revise a blank page.

Brutal Revision Builds Great Writing

Revisions can change the whole look of the book. Once your draft exists, read and reshape it. Cut unnecessary words, make the flow good, and give your message clearly. Delete whole sections if they aren’t serving the story.

It’s not personal; it’s necessary. Great writers like Zadie Smith are known for their intense revision process. This way of revision isn’t optional; it’s where average books become unforgettable. Professional novel writers often focus on developmental editing for this reason.

Repetition Is the Writer’s Real Path

Writing is a cycle: draft, rest, revise, repeat. That repetition might seem tedious, but it’s how progress happens. Each round deepens your understanding and strengthens your voice.

Learning how to write a novel or any long-form content means building endurance through this loop. Don’t expect to nail it in one go. Expect to grow with every draft. Writing improves because you repeat the process, not because you avoid it.

Support Makes the Process Smoother

Someone else’s review or opinion can tell you what you can’t get after reading it for the 100th time. Whether you hire professionals or swap drafts with a writing buddy, getting feedback is important. They will point out plot holes, unclear ideas, and weak spots you missed.

Done Is Better Than Perfect

Too many writers stall because they’re waiting for their work to be flawless. Newsflash: it never will be. At some point, you have to let go. Done is always better than perfect. This doesn’t mean you should publish a rough draft, but don’t rewrite it forever either.

Finish, revise, release. That’s how published authors do it. One imperfect draft at a time. According to Joanna Penn, prolific author and writing coach, finishing consistently beats polishing endlessly.

Keep the Drafting Cycle Going

Try these things:

1. Writing Sprints

Set a timer for 20 or 30 minutes and just write—no backspacing, no overthinking. The goal is speed, not perfection. Writing sprints help you outrun your inner critic and build momentum fast. They are perfect for pushing through writer’s block or knocking out that “ugly first draft” phase. Just go fast, stay loose, and fix it later.

2. Revision Logs

Keep a simple notebook or digital doc where you jot down what you changed and what still feels off after each revision pass. A revision log gives you a clear sense of progress, helps you avoid repeating mistakes, and reminds you what to tackle next. It’s a small habit with a big impact on how you revise and improve.

3. Voice Notes

Sometimes your best ideas come when you are not staring at a screen. Use your phone to talk through your plot points, characters, or scene transitions. Then transcribe what you said. Voice notes help you think out loud and write more naturally. They are especially great when you’re stuck and need to brainstorm on the go.

4. Accountability Buddies

Find a fellow writer or creative friend and check in weekly. Set goals together, share your wins and frustrations, and encourage each other to keep going. Accountability buddies make writing feel less lonely and help you stick to your routine. It’s easier to finish your book when someone’s rooting for you—and waiting to hear how it’s going.

5. Professional Editors

After you have done your rounds of revision, bring in a professional editor. They can catch what you can’t: plot holes, pacing issues, awkward wording, and inconsistencies. They bring objectivity and expertise to your work. A good editor turns your final draft into your best draft.

You Don’t Need to Be a Genius, You Just Need Grit

Writing a book isn’t a straight line; it’s a cycle. The better you get at accepting that, the stronger your writing will become. Stop stressing about the perfect sentence—it doesn’t exist. Start chasing the honest one. Start chasing the sentence that means something to you.

Writing a novel or nonfiction book is more about showing up—day after day, draft after draft. It’s about being okay with writing something “ugly” today so you can revise it into something powerful tomorrow. The people who finish books aren’t the smartest in the room; they are the ones who don’t quit.

So, how do you write a book? You write, revise, and keep working. You don’t have to be brilliant every day. You just have to be persistent. Want a shortcut? There isn’t one. But there is help that you can take from writing services to guide your vision, clean up your drafts, and get your ideas to the finish line.

FAQs

How long should I spend on my first draft?

Your first draft timeline depends on the project, but don’t drag it out. Aim for speed over polish—set a deadline like 30 days to maintain momentum. Writing badly means you focus on completion, not perfection. Daily writing goals should be 500–1000 words. Remember, it’s just the raw material. Finishing the first draft fast gives you something real to improve.

Should I edit while writing the first draft?

No. Editing while writing is one of the biggest traps. It slows you down and kills creative flow. Let your thoughts spill out naturally. If you pause to tweak every sentence, you will likely lose your rhythm and momentum. Save perfection for the revision phase. The first draft isn’t meant to be read—it’s meant to exist.

What’s the difference between editing and revising?

Revision is big-picture: rewriting scenes, shifting structure, or clarifying plot points. Editing is detailed work, such as fixing grammar, smoothing sentences, and adjusting tone. You revise to improve the content, and you edit to improve the presentation. Affordable ebook writing services often separate these phases professionally because they require different skills and mindsets.

How do I stay motivated through multiple revisions?

Break revision into stages and celebrate small wins. Focus on one task at a time—structure, then clarity, then polish. Keep a checklist. Revisit your why and imagine the finished product. Sharing progress with a writing buddy or using custom book writing help can keep energy high. Motivation dips are normal, but each draft brings you closer to a book you are proud of.

How do I know when my book is ready?

You will never feel 100% ready, but if your book holds together, makes sense, flows well, and passes multiple revision rounds, maybe a beta reader test, it’s likely ready. Perfection is a myth. At some point, you must hit publish or submit. If you have done honest, brutal revisions and cleaned it up, trust the work.

Do I still take writing services if I have already written a draft?

Absolutely. In fact, many premium ebook writing services can polish existing drafts. Whether you need developmental edits, line editing, or help tightening structure, they will work with what you have. Getting a professional’s insight before finalizing can massively improve your book’s quality and save you from major rewrites later.

About Author

Hi My name is Micheal Adams, When I am not watching horror movies and helping my kids with homework or reading my favorite fantasy/supernatural novels – I’m writing to guide aspiring authors. I focus on exploring and simplifying both the technical aspects and the often-overlooked details of book writing and publishing so I can empower new writers to climb the Amazon bestseller list and connect with more readers.