Fail Big, Win Bigger: Lessons from a Hedgehog

I don’t know how many of you are old enough (or is it young enough?) to remember Sonic the Hedgehog games. Yeah, no? Alright then that’s fine.

Any who, after the games, let’s rewind (forward) to 2019: the Sonic the Hedgehog movie trailer dropped, and the internet… imploded.

Sonic had human teeth. His eyes were unsettlingly small. It wasn’t just a bad design; it was a disaster of mythic proportions.

Memes erupted. Fans screamed. What about Paramount? They listened.

They scrapped months of work, spent $5 million on a redesign, and released a Sonic who looked… good. No, great.

Sonic’s glow-up didn’t just save the movie…it turned it into a global success, spawning sequels, merch, and a rejuvenated fanbase.

This isn’t just a redemption arc for a beloved blue blur. This is schooling in creative resilience.

Take this from Sonic’s saga:

1. Your First Draft Should Suck. Seriously

The original Sonic was the draft every writer fears: ugly, flawed, and begging to be buried.

That’s how it should be.

A bad first draft isn’t failure; it’s freedom.

It’s the place where you’re allowed to be messy, outrageous, and, ye I’ll say it, cringe-worthy.

Great stories are forged in the rewrite, not the first run.

Stop polishing your sentences into oblivion.

Write the ugly version first.

2. Feedback Is a Gift (Even When It Hurts)

The internet’s reaction to Sonic was brutal…and exactly what the studio needed.

They could’ve ignored it, but instead, they embraced the criticism.

Writers, take note: feedback isn’t an attack; it’s an opportunity.

Surround yourself with beta readers and editors who care enough to tell you the truth.

If a recurring issue comes up, don’t dismiss it. Lean in, listen, and fix it.

The fans who dragged Sonic? They’re the same fans who celebrated his glow-up.

3. The Rewrite Is Where the Magic Happens

Sonic’s redesign wasn’t a tweak; it was an overhaul.

His new look felt familiar yet fresh, honoring the original while embracing modernity.

That’s the power of a rewrite. It’s not just about fixing typos; it’s about finding the heart of your story and sharpening it until it gleams.

JK Rowling rewrote Harry Potter's opening chapter dozens of times. Don’t fear the process. Team Sonic didn’t, and neither should you.

4. Bold Risks Can Lead to Big Rewards

Scrapping Sonic’s original design wasn’t just expensive; it was a gamble.

Playing it safe never created anything memorable.

As a writer, you have to take risks…a daring plot twist, a controversial character choice, a story that defies genre norms.

Sure, not every risk will pay off, but when it does? It’s transformative.

Sonic’s team bet big and won bigger. You can, too.

5. Redemption Arcs Aren’t Just for Characters

Sonic’s story wasn’t just about fixing mistakes; it was about owning them.

Writers often bury failed projects, but sometimes those failures are worth revisiting.

That messy manuscript in your drawer? The WIP that you haven’t looked at in ages? It might just need a fresh perspective and a bold rewrite.

Redemption is possible…for Sonic, for stories, and for you.

6. Embrace the Cringe; It’s Part of the Process

“Ugly Sonic” became a meme for a reason. Memes fade; legacy lasts.

To create something great, you have to wade through the awkward, the embarrassing, and the downright cringy.

It’s part of finding your voice and your vision. Don’t shy away from it.

Sonic’s creators leaned into the cringe, and it paid off in spades.

7. Engage, Don’t Defend

Paramount’s response to Sonic’s backlash wasn’t defensiveness; it was collaboration.

They said, “We hear you,” and they delivered.

Writers, when readers criticize your work, don’t get defensive.

Engage with them. Understand their perspective.

You don’t have to agree with every critique, but you do have to respect it.

Dialogue builds trust, and trust builds loyal readers.

In Other Words

Sonic’s glow-up wasn’t just about fixing a bad design.

It was about resilience, collaboration, and the courage to start over.

As writers, we’re all chasing our own glow-ups…the rewrite that makes a story sing, the feedback that sharpens our craft, the risk that redefines our path.

Fail big. Fail boldly. Denzel Washington says fail forward so that when you get up, you are further than you were when you started.

Then get back to work and win bigger.

It’s just the beginning.