Write the Effin’ Book Already: A Pep Talk for Writers Who Are Stuck

Let’s cut to the chase.

You want your book to be good. Of course you do. You want it to be moving, beautiful, polished—at the very least good enough that you don’t flinch when you read it back aloud. Maybe you imagine a future reader crying at just the right part, or laughing because your dialogue is that sharp. You dream of reviews, maybe even awards, or at least the satisfaction of finally holding your finished book in your hands.

But let’s be honest: none of that happens until you actually write it.

Here’s the hard truth:
You can’t edit a book that doesn’t exist.

You can’t polish a paragraph that’s still swirling in your brain.
You can’t tighten Chapter 14 if you haven’t even written Chapter 1—or any chapter, for that matter.

And no, obsessing over the perfect opening sentence doesn’t count as progress.

At some point, you have to let go of the idea of writing the right thing and just write something.
Messy. Clunky. Rambling. Repetitive. Embarrassing. Whatever it is, it’s better than nothing—because a bad page can be edited. A blank one? That’s just a glowing screen mocking you with silence.

Getting that first draft down is about momentum. It’s not about perfection. It’s about moving forward, building something real, and stepping out of the land of “maybe someday” and into the world of work in progress.

So here’s a radical idea I want you to try on for size:

Let your first draft be terrible.
Not just “not great.” I’m talking full-on hot garbage. Overwritten or underwritten. Filled with plot holes and character inconsistencies. Maybe your main character’s eye color changes three times. Maybe you switch tenses mid-paragraph. Guess what? That’s fine.

Because none of it matters yet.

What matters is that you’re writing. That you’re showing up. That you’re making your story real.

And if you’re stuck? If you’ve been spinning your wheels or ghosting your draft like it’s an ex texting at midnight, here’s your permission slip:

• Lower the bar.
• Write badly on purpose if you have to.
• Don’t stop to fix anything. That’s future-you’s job. (Or mine.)
• Keep your eyes on the prize—those two delicious words: “The End.”

Write like nobody’s watching—because honestly? Nobody is.

You can make it pretty later. You can structure it, trim the fat, tighten the plot. And if you can’t do it alone? That’s where I come in.

I’m a book editor and writing coach, and I live for helping stuck writers become published authors. Whether you need encouragement, accountability, or an editor who can see through the mess and find the story inside, I’m here.

But first—you’ve gotta write the effin’ book.

Your future self? They’re going to be very glad you did.

Need a push? A plan? A partner in the trenches?

Email me at editorsuetoth@gmail.com and let’s talk about how my coaching can help you get it done.