Sometimes I finish a draft, look at it, and just think… nope. Not because it’s bad. It just doesn’t feel right. Like it’s missing something I imagined but can’t quite put into words.
It’s not that I don’t care. I care so much I’ll talk myself in circles trying to make it better. But if I wait for it to feel perfect, it’ll never get published.
“Done” Doesn’t Always Feel Good
One of the trickiest parts of writing for a living is knowing when to stop. You don’t always get the luxury of tinkering with every line. Sometimes you’ve got a deadline, a word count, and a queue of other posts to write.
I’ve finished plenty of drafts while folding laundry or sitting in bed half-asleep. At some point, I had to start trusting that I’d done enough, even if I still felt unsure.
I used to rewrite the same sentence five different ways just to feel like I’d tried hard enough. My Google Drive was full of file names like “final,” “FINAL-final,” and “okay-this-one-for-real.”
I thought spending more time on a draft made it more “real.” Like the longer I stared at it, the better it’d be. But all it really did was slow me down and make me second-guess myself.
Letting go felt like a risk. But the truth is, it’s normal to feel unsure, even after the work is done.
What Helps Me Hit Send
I don’t always love the writing by the time I’m done. But this little checklist helps me stop spiraling and actually finish things.
Here’s what I ask myself:
✅ Does it answer the main idea or brief?
I go back to why I started writing it. If it does the job, I’m usually closer than I think.
✅ Have I cut out the fluff?
I treat editing like tidying a messy kitchen. If the counters are clear, everything feels more manageable.
✅ Did I fix the awkward bits?
I don’t need every line to be perfect. But if something makes me cringe, I clean it up before I move on.
✅ Would I be okay with someone I respect reading this?
If yes, I’m probably just being a bit too hard on myself.
✅ Does it feel honest?
It doesn’t need to be clever or deep. Just real.
✅ Can I read it out loud without wincing?
This one matters more than it sounds. If I can read it out loud and it flows, I usually call it done.
Some drafts just feel off. Maybe I overworked it. Maybe the topic didn’t click. Maybe I’m just tired and too close to it.
When that happens, I usually do one of three things:
- Leave it alone for a bit and come back later. Most of the time, it’s not as bad as I thought.
- Send it anyway. Especially if it’s for work. Sometimes I need distance before I can see the value in it.
- Save a copy in drafts. Just in case I want to redo it. I rarely do, but knowing it’s there helps me move on.
Every so often, I’ll finish a post and think, yep, this is the one. The words feel right. The flow makes sense. I read it out loud and don’t want to change a thing.
It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, I remember why I love writing. That feeling is what I chase—but I’ve learned I don’t need it every time to keep going.
Letting Go Is Part of the Job
I’ve had to accept that not every post will be my favorite. Some will be fine. Some will just be okay. And that’s still okay.
Done doesn’t mean perfect. It just means I showed up, wrote the thing, and trusted myself enough to stop editing.
And honestly, sometimes that’s the win.
If you’ve ever stared at a finished draft and still felt weird about it, you’re not alone. It doesn’t always feel good. But it doesn’t have to feel perfect to be done.
Done is brave. Done means you showed up. And if that’s where you are right now, I’m cheering you on.
How do you know when something’s ready to publish? I’d love to hear what helps you hit “send.”