Do you struggle with perfectionism?
The need for every line, every word, every punctuation mark to fall into line?
I did. Once upon a time.
Now I have one of the biggest mistakes I’ve ever made right on the back of my first book.
Embarrassing, right?
Not anymore.
I’ve learned to embrace the small mistakes as quirks of my writing. Maybe someone will notice, maybe not. Doesn’t matter. It doesn’t make me less of a writer.
Perfectionism can be a silent saboteur for writers, often masquerading as a commitment to quality.
The relentless urge to make every sentence flawless from the first draft leads to endless revisions, stalled projects, and a crippling fear of the blank page, aka, Writer’s Block. This pursuit of an unattainable ideal drains creativity, transforms the joy of writing into a stressful chore, and prevents a writer from ever finishing their work, trapped in a cycle of self-criticism and dissatisfaction.
If you’re fighting perfectionism, help is available. As a reminder, you can book a free 15-minute meeting. Consider it a mini-writing-therapy session. You don’t have to suffer in silence. Let’s connect and start finding solutions.
STRUGGLES & SUCCESSES
Overcoming the drive for absolute perfection involves a shift in mindset and approach. It means embracing the understanding that first drafts are inherently imperfect and that the true magic happens in revision. Setting realistic time limits for writing and editing sessions, rather than striving for endless polish, can foster productivity. By focusing on the process of creation itself, rather than solely on the end product, writers can rediscover the joy in their craft and allow their work to evolve organically, knowing that “good enough” is often the crucial step toward truly great.
- Embrace the “Shitty First Draft”: Accept that first drafts are meant to be imperfect and that revision is part of the process. Write with abandon and don’t edit until it’s time to address the whole or a part of a piece.
- Set Time Limits: Give yourself a set amount of time to work on a piece for writing and, later, for editing
- Focus on the Process, Not the Product: Find joy in the act of writing, rather than fixating on the end result.
- Seek Feedback: Share your work with trusted readers before you’ve polished it to death. This leaves room for improvements and reinforces the idea that writing is a process.
- Recognize “Good Enough”: Understand that striving for excellence is different than striving for an unattainable perfection
I’m sharing strategies to writers’ pain points here and in my weekly email. Have some you’d like to share? Let me know! If you’re not getting that email, sign up at linseyewing.com/get-access. You’ll also find some fun writer freebies.
CURRENT NOVEL PROGRESS
TDG Draft 5 Word Count: 20,770 (back in the sadddle)
ASD Draft 0: 15,401
Yesterday, I opened the doc and caught up with where I am. Next is copy/pasting some work to finish the draft before I go through the whole thing again in July. This month is prep for that work.
HAPPENING THIS MONTH
Tonight and June 17th: YouTube Stream at 5 PM Central / 6 EST
We’ll take a break for a few weeks and return in July. I also have a joint stream planned for the weekend of July 12. Might want to write that one down.
CREATIVE COLLECTIVE: The next meeting is Monday, July 7th, at 7:30 PM Central / 8:30 EST. This is our accountability group, and you are more than welcome. Just email me for the Zoom link.
In Other News
If you’re having trouble naming your passion, finding time to work, or just want to discuss your WIP, I’m only a click away. Take the time. You won’t regret it.
Start or Finish today. I can help.
litewings.ink 