Why Finishing Your Draft Might Be the Wrong Goal

Every new author has probably heard the mantra “Just finish your manuscript.” It’s the milestone most writers obsess over. But here’s a radical thought: Finishing your draft might be the wrong goal.

Because if you go into the writing process thinking, “Once I hit the end, I’ll finally be an author,” you’re setting yourself up for frustration. Sure, finishing a book draft is a huge accomplishment. But focusing only on that goal could distract you from building a clear publishing plan that will lead to long-term success after you finish your manuscript.

In this post, we’ll explore why “just finishing your draft” can be a misleading target, what a smarter one looks like, and how to frame your mindset to keep your publishing momentum strong.

The myth of the finished draft

At some point in your publishing journey, you may have been told to just write until you finish. Once you have that manuscript, success will follow. For many authors, that’s the whole goal.

But there’s a few myths around that mindset:

Your manuscript must be perfect. We tell ourselves it has to be flawless before anyone can see it. If we present a messy draft, can we really call ourselves an author?

Your manuscript is a product to launch. We think of the draft as something to finish and hand off. Once that draft is finished, our work is over.

Completing a manuscript is the ultimate accomplishment. We believe that reaching “The End” is what finally makes us an author. No other part of the publishing process really matters.

These myths—and many others—show up everywhere in writing advice. You’ll often hear in writing guides, “Just get the messy version out.” While that can be good advice (keeping the momentum matters!), treating it as the ultimate goal can leave you unprepared for what comes after the draft is done.

Why this goal can backfire

When you’re just learning how to write a book, setting out to write a whole manuscript sounds like a solid goal, but it can actually trip you up in ways you don’t expect.

Here’s how that goal can backfire:

It fuels perfectionism. When you believe you have to produce a complete draft before you can call yourself an author, the pressure builds fast. You second-guess every sentence, delay edits, and start to lose momentum. The truth? Writing is messy and iterative—and that’s exactly how it should be.

It postpones strategy. When all your energy goes into finishing the draft, it’s easy to push off bigger-picture steps—like defining your audience, planning your publishing path, or thinking through your marketing strategy. But your draft is only one part of a much larger publishing plan.

It disconnects you from the creative journey. Treating “done” as the only milestone can rob you of the very growth writing offers: discipline, voice, and perspective. Authors who embrace writing as a process—not just a product—tend to build more confidence and resilience over time.

In short, finishing your draft can feel like victory, but without a plan for what comes next, that victory can feel surprisingly, well… hollow.

A smarter early-stage goal

So, if hitting that word count isn’t the end goal, then what is? Instead of focusing on just finishing your draft, we tell authors to try setting a goal that moves them closer to publication. Here’s a great one: Create a clear, actionable roadmap from draft to published book.

Here’s a simple framework of what that looks like practically:

Write consistently. Keep writing even when the words feel messy. Maintaining your progress will always earn you more success than striving for perfection on every page.

Embrace a “working draft.” Think of the draft you’re writing as version one, not a final product. That means it’s going to be messy, but trust us—that’s a good thing.

Define your publishing intention. Whom are you writing for? What story or insight are you sharing? And which path—traditional, hybrid, or self-publishing—fits your goals best?

Plan your 90 days post-manuscript. Outline your revision timeline, feedback process, editing milestones, and publishing research.

Start positioning yourself as an author. You’re writing a book, which means you’re an author. Use this time to develop your voice, build your platform, and let readers start discovering who you are!

Our main message is not to get too caught up in perfecting your manuscript (that will come later!). The more prepared you can be now in the full publishing process, the smoother and more successful your journey will be later.

How to shift your mindset

We get it: It’s hard to think about what comes after your manuscript when you’re in the thick of writing it now. But before you write another page, we’ve got some tips to help you reframe the way you think about your goals: 

Shift 1: From finishing to progressing. Instead of thinking, “Once I finish my draft, I’ll be an author,” try this: “Every page I write makes me an author.” Your identity isn’t tied to the final draft. It’s built through consistent action. Research shows that writers who succeed long-term are flexible and open-minded, and they treat writing as practice, not performance.

Shift 2: From product to process. Your draft isn’t the finished book; it’s the raw material. When you stop labeling early work as “bad” or “not ready,” you free yourself to write with more confidence and creativity. Think of it as a working draft, a first pass, or even a test run. Every version brings you closer to clarity.

Shift 3: From uncertainty to direction. Don’t wait until “The End” to think about what comes next. Build your publishing plan now. Defining your reader, your goals, and your publishing path early on turns uncertainty into momentum and ensures you’re not writing into a vacuum.

When you start seeing writing as a continual, purpose-driven process, everything changes. You’re no longer waiting to become an author. You already are one.

Three actions you can take today

Ready to start moving forward in your publishing journey with purpose? Here are three small but powerful steps you can take right now:

1. Schedule a 30-minute block and write without editing. Set a timer and give yourself permission to write imperfect words. The goal isn’t flawless prose, but to just keep going. Right now, building the habit matters more than the outcome.
2. Draft your one-page publishing vision. Outline your reader, your story or purpose, your preferred publishing path, and your timeline. This quick exercise gives you a sense of direction and turns vague goals into an actionable plan.
3. Reframe your manuscript as a “working version.” Rename the file if you have to! Remind yourself that your draft is the material you’ll build on. Thinking this way shifts your focus from the finish line to the foundation you’re creating.

Each of these actions helps you trade perfection for progress, and that’s what keeps your writing (and your confidence!) growing.

Turn your messy draft into a clear path forward

If you’re just starting out, finishing your draft can feel like pushing a boulder uphill. And it’s easy for pushing that boulder to become your sole focus. But when you shift your focus to building a roadmap for the full publishing process, everything changes. You feel the pressure lifted, you gain clarity, and you start to build real momentum.

At Elite Authors, we help authors learn how to write a book using a forward-thinking approach that moves you confidently from idea to manuscript to publication. Because writing a draft is just the start. Building a lasting author career is the goal.

And if you’re in the middle of a messy draft, we can help you learn how to shift your mindset, build your draft-to-publishing roadmap, and take the right early-stage actions to move confidently toward publication.

Download our free guide, “Your Draft is Messy. And That’s Okay.”