Every book starts with a first draft. It will often take the longest to write, and at the same time come out at the lowest possible quality. It's very likely you will hate your first drafts, and that's OK.
They're allowed to suck.
"The first draft is just you telling yourself the story." - Sir Terry Pratchett
Let your first draft suck
This advice is for the perfectionists and the care-too-muchers. It's really easy to fall into the trap of thinking too hard, for too long, about the perfection of your first draft, to the point where you either can't finish it or lose the love for the project.
There will often come a point where the 'love' of a project turns into the 'grind', but that love should always be there hiding away somewhere and it would be a shame to lose it over something that is, essentially, an easy attitude adjustment.
Think of your first draft as the first step in a process that includes multiple drafts. This first bit is just for you - not even for a beta reader, nor even an editor. It's just your little secret to yourself; a series of scribbled notes that you've taken too far. Leave the plot holes gaping, make all the characters unlikable, forget to flesh out the world or use the five senses. All of that is acceptable in a first draft.
The drafting process: For traditional or self publishing
(see below for Wattpad-specific advice)
First Draft: The imperfect bones of the story, riddled with errors. Don't spend too much time fixing things, just finish the draft.
Second Draft: The self-edit. Go back through your first draft in its entirety and self-edit as many of the issues as you care to find.
Editor: Now an editor can see your work. If you send them your first draft, they may get stuck on improving things you could have fixed yourself. It's safer, and more efficient, to send them the second. Fun fact: it is the second or third draft manuscript - never the first - that you would send to agents or publishers.
Repeat as Needed: You may need an editor's help a few times, or you may only need it a little bit. Everyone is different and there's no 'correct' process. Write as many drafts as is required. My first book had five of the buggers.
Copy Editor (Proof Editor): Don't worry about typos and spelling errors until now. There's no point finagling with your grammar and spelling until you're about to hit publish, because you may change the entire chapter and, thus, the typos that were there previously won't matter.
Publish: At some point you have to hit publish. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it does have to be done. How many books have you read where there's been a plot hole, or an imperfect character, or even some typos? Exactly - even the pros don't make it perfect. But they do get it done. Publish your damn book.
First drafts on Wattpad
Wattpad is a place for creative freedom, expression of thought, pure imagination. It's full of every level of book possible - and most of them are first drafts.
Writing for Wattpad kind of goes against the advice above, as it does not follow the same system.
Make this your editing attitude: On Wattpad you're expressing creative ideas as you go, testing them, seeing how people react. So long as you accept that mentality up front ("This is where I go to be free, not perfect") then you can publish a first draft here and wait to see the feedback roll in without drama.
To put it in video gaming terms, this is your public alpha. I think readers here generally accept that. And your community is here to support you in that endeavour.
Still too worried to put your first draft on Wattpad? Your only other choice, the way I see it, is to write the entire thing elsewhere, then proof it yourself into a second-draft state, then publish it on Wattpad. Although, if you're letting fear guide your writing choices, that's something to work on!
From Wattpad to professional publishing
When you want to professionally publish a Wattpad book, use it as the first draft and go through the proper process. The final product may look quite different to your original vision, and that's OK! Now people can see your journey by reading both Wattpad and the finished book itself.
* * *
Attitude really is half the battle. And you know what's a great attitude? Voting on this book.
Got questions? You know the drill - hit me up in the comments. And, if you know someone who could use this advice, please tag them.
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