21: 3 Things I Learned Whilst Writing the First 50% of My First Draft

On the 21st of September, I reached a milestone 12-year-old me dreamed about — but over the years began to doubt I’d ever achieve: 50% of my first draft. 🎉

This is the furthest I’ve ever written into a draft and for the first time, I feel certain I’m going to finish. One day soon, my book will be on the shelves of readers across the world.

To celebrate, I want to share three big lessons I’ve learned in the first half of writing my manuscript. Accepting these truths very recently has made the process less stressful, more sustainable, and a lot more fun.

1. The First Draft Is Supposed to Be a Hot Mess

My draft is technically “rubbish”.

The first quarter tells a completely different story to the second, and by the halfway mark it’s morphed again. I’ve re-written the same event in two different places because I realised it worked better later. Whole sections are just placeholders: DESCRIBE CREATURES HERE or TOWN NAME TBD.

And I love it.

For years I sabotaged myself by editing too soon. Every time I had a new idea, I’d go back and rewrite instead of moving forward. That constant “fixing” strangled my creativity.

Now I let myself keep writing, leaving gaps and holding space for “bad writing.” I’m incredibly proud of how far I have come and my first draft is all the proof I need on the healing I have done of my perfectionism.

If I notice an issue now, I simply tell myself: I’ll fix it in the second draft.

👉 Takeaway: Don’t polish as you go. First drafts are meant to be messy. Momentum matters more than perfection.

2. Characters Feel Flat at First (And That’s Okay)

I can’t stand my characters in this draft.

It’s not that they’re “bad.” It’s that in my head they’re rich, layered, and bursting with life and on the page right now, they fall completely flat.

But I’ve learned this is part of the process. The first draft is about discovering your story. The second draft is where you step back, shape the arcs, and start layering in depth, nuance, and emotion.

So, yes, my characters feel shallow now. But I trust who they’ll become as I add layer after layer in revision.

👉 Takeaway: Don’t judge your characters too early. The magic comes in later drafts.

3. Some Days Will Feel Like a Grind

When I first committed to finishing my book earlier this year, I was on fire. Writing felt effortless. Motivation carried me through those first weeks.

But motivation fades, and when it did, I had to lean on something stronger: self-commitment.

The truth is writing often feels like a grind. There are a thousand reasons not to sit down at my desk, but I choose my dream over and over again.

And if I tell myself “just one sprint,” I almost always end up writing for much longer. Discipline opens the door, and creativity shows up once I’ve started.

👉 Takeaway: Don’t wait for motivation. Discipline and self-commitment will get your book finished.

Final Thoughts

Writing a book isn’t easy and it’s not supposed to be. (Did you know that only 0.6% of people who start writing a book actually go on to publish it?)

Hitting the halfway mark of my first draft has taught me that messy pages, flat characters, and grind days aren’t signs of failure. They’re proof you’re doing the work. And that’s something to be incredibly proud of.

Here’s to finishing strong.

Happy writing,

Renee Ella x

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