The writer’s curse:
perfectionism.
Remember that book you held so
much hope for? The synopsis was enthralling, the introduction was epic, and the
words on page one seemed to leap into action before your mind’s eye. It was
only after you bought the book, saved it for that rainy day, and finally curled
up to read it that you realized the novel was a complete let-down. Between the
shabby character development and choppy sentence structure, you got the
impression the author had lost interest after chapter three.
No writer who loves their craft
wants that book to be theirs. Determined to best Tolkien, Dickens, and Austen
by age twenty, we aim to eliminate the possibility of criticism. We long to
have our message understood, our characters’ value perceived, and our readers’
lives touched. This is a beautiful goal. This is what makes you more than
someone who knows how to write. It makes you a writer.
Sadly, it does not make you an
author. The very passion and drive that fuels your creativity can also stifle
it. Perfectionism is the death of creativity and, thereby, the death of
writing. Many writers never make it past chapter one on an idea they love
because they worry about how inadequate their words are. Good news! No one
worth their salt expects your first draft of a novel to be good. You should not
expect that either.
Many other writers finish the
novel but never dare share it beyond their inner circle. This is not failure.
Perhaps you write for the joy of the labor itself. You may have no dreams of
earning of a living on your passion or no interest in entering the maze of
editing, publishing, marketing, and criticism. This is absolutely fine! Writing
has a unique and pure pleasure when it is being done for the sake of the author
alone. However, if you do hope for publication, then do not allow the
perfectionism inside you keep you trapped in the mire of perpetual rewrites. At
some point you simply have to accept that your work is polished enough.
The harsh truth is that since
you and I are faulty humans our writing will be flawed. You may be able to
create a faultless sentence, but to perfect an entire novel? Impossible. This
is not just because of your humanity, but because other humans are your
readers. Some who read your work will love it; some who read your work will
despise it. Get used to the idea. Find the confidence to be proud of your
writing despite what others say.
How do you beat the curse of
perfectionism?
1) Share your work with others. Once you start to endure criticism and feed off praise,
your courage will grow.
2) Hold your own.
Feedback will grant you some good changes along with a plethora of really bad
suggestions. Be confident in the decisions you make, while also being wise
enough to accept counsel.
3) Keep writing. If
you cannot make chapter three just right, then move on to chapter four anyway.
You can always come back. Expect editing.
Happy writing, friends!
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