So. Last night I found the first draft of Truest.
It is 80 pages with the climax on page 75 and the whole shebang wraps up in just five pages. It has a non-ending. There are some SUUUUUPER cheesy parts that make my teeth hurt. There is virtually no conflict. It. is. terrible. TERRIBLE.
And it was the best thing I could have read this week.
What do I mean? Well, if that— that worthless drivel written by some talentless hack– could be made into a book that I’m proud of, then there’s great hope for Yes Novel. It’s already about ten times better than the first draft of Truest.
I’m not kidding: if someone else had handed me that first draft of Truest, I would have wanted to politely suggest to them that they should explore other careers. Yet, I remember being so proud of it back in the summer of 2012, when I wrapped up that first draft!
So– take heart! If you’re in a battle with your own manuscript, just know that there’s a possibility you BOTH might win!!
JACKIE LEA SOMMERS 
Needed this today. Had a bit of a rough workshop on my novel outline last night in class. Think I need to do a major overhaul … but still not sure how. Hopefully I look back on these early drafts with the same feelings you have about Truest someday.
I’m confident you’ll figure out your next steps … and your next steps after that … and then the next too … and you’ll look back and love it. ❤