Zuraen
There was a time when I believed that real writers wrote every day. That they had pristine desks and perfect grammar, that their first drafts sounded like final edits. I used to think that if I wasn’t writing like that, then I wasn’t doing it right.
But now? After years of wrestling with blank pages, chasing metaphors in the middle of the night, and doubting every word I’ve ever put on paper, I’ve learned better. Writing isn’t neat. It’s not linear. It’s messy, emotional, sometimes soul-shattering, and absolutely worth it.
So, from one writer to another, here’s what I’ve learned. The kind of advice I wish someone whispered to me back when I thought I was alone in the chaos.
1. First drafts are allowed to be ugly
Please, stop expecting beauty from the beginning.
First drafts aren’t supposed to be good, they’re supposed to exist. They’re permission slips, not polished pieces.
Let them be messy. Let them ramble. You can’t edit a blank page, but you can sculpt a terrible one into something incredible. That’s the point.
2. Writing takes time and that’s okay
Some days you’ll write 2,000 words in a rush of caffeine and adrenaline. Other days, a single sentence will take hours. Both are valid.
Creativity isn’t a machine. It ebbs and flows. Respect the slowness. Growth happens even when the page stays blank, your brain is still working things out in the background.
3.Make your writing personal even if it’s fiction
The best writing comes from somewhere true. I don’t mean you have to bleed all over the page (though sometimes you will). I mean: bring your soul to the story.
Write what feels, not what trends. Readers can tell when something is honest. Even if it’s about aliens or ancient curses or a dystopia made of cotton candy, make it yours.
4. Editing is where the magic lives
You don’t have to get it right the first time. That’s what editing is for. Don’t be afraid to cut, move, rewrite, delete, start over. It’s not failure, it’s refinement.
Some of my strongest pieces only revealed themselves in the third or fourth round of edits. That’s when the voice got clearer. That’s when I finally said what I was actually trying to say.
5. Your voice matters (yes, yours)
It’s easy to think everything’s already been said. But it hasn’t been said by you.
Someone out there needs to read your words in your way. Don’t water yourself down to fit into a mold. Be weird. Be soft. Be bold. Write in fragments if that’s your thing. Break rules if it feels right. There’s no “right” way to sound like you.
Conclusion;
Keep Writing, Even When It Sucks
Writing will frustrate you. It will make you question yourself. But if it’s in your blood, you already know: quitting isn’t really an option.
So don’t wait for permission. Don’t wait for perfection. Just write. Even badly. Especially badly. Because in that mess, something beautiful is waiting.
And I promise, it’s worth finding.
Also read:- Best Book Recommendations & Tips for Beginners
Sakshi Goutam
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