Failing Forward

First Drafts and Embracing the Mess

Last month, I celebrated a milestone: I finished the first draft of my book. Or, more accurately, probably the second or third draft, because it's not just a stream of consciousness; the manuscript had already been edited a few times. I felt triumphant. I went to the beach with my little family, cracked open a beer, and shared the news on social media. It was Valentine’s Day. I did it! For years, I’ve been talking about writing a book one day—at least for the past 25 years. And now, I had come so close to finishing it.

I wrote it over the course of a year, next to my napping daughter, sometimes knocking out just a paragraph at a time. Rarely did I get a solid three-hour writing block, but I stayed consistent. I worked with someone who gave me feedback throughout the year. Finally, I had finished it. Now, the fun part could begin—shaping it into a real book that readers could also enjoy.