Editor’s Picks — Top 10: There’s No Such Thing As Perfect Writing

Let’s read and share our top 10 stories today

There’s no such thing as perfect writing, just like there’s no such thing as perfect despair. ~ Haruki Murakami

Every writer is always looking for at least two things: 1)something to make writing easy and 2)her perfect piece.

I would feel fortunate if I ever found an easy way to write an almost perfect piece. Perhaps that is the reason I like to read books about writing. But I have yet to find a writer who says it becomes simple with time.

For things that stubbornly remain difficult, the best way out is to accept them as they are. If you stop trying to simplify the process, you can finally focus on the real thing: writing.

The mere act of accepting a complex process is enough to allow your mind to find the right — though difficult — answer relatively quickly.

At the core of all creativity lies an unpredictable process. You don’t know what you can create today, and that is okay. Not pretending to know and embracing the uncertainty of life is the only way to be creative, as well as sane.

It is okay to let go of understanding how writing works. Writing is not a computer-generated video game where everybody passes through the same struggles when moving from one stage to the next. But one thing is sure, good writing never comes naturally to anybody.

If you feel some people are born writers, you are wrong. I often say, ‘When you meet someone with a BMI of 23, you assume she was always like that.’ But nobody is naturally smart. You fail to see the hours of exercise, healthy food choices, and lifestyle changes those people went through to reach that BMI.

Perfect writing is not possible. If you ever wrote a flawless piece, it would not do well. Human beings intuitively shun perfection — it seems artificial. Nobody likes a perfectly moral person, a perfect believer, or someone with ideal family background. If you know someone who seems perfect, she must be faking it.

The flaws in your writing make it beautiful. The reader enjoys it more if she thinks the writer is struggling to present a deeper meaning.

If you can convey a meaning — no matter how poorly — it is better than not writing or writing a piece so perfect that the reader feels nauseated by its perfection.

So, let your flaws be your style. Intend to write meaningful prose that is less than perfect. I don’t guarantee what your readers will feel, but I can assure you one thing: your lost enthusiasm to write will come back.

Here is the list of our top 10 stories today — written by writers who thank the creative muse when they finish writing a piece:

10. What TikTok Can Teach Us About Writing

Bradon Matthews is an excellent writer, model, and flower child gone wrong. He writes about the things he has learned; from great thinkers and from his own crazy life experiences.

His writing style is frank, conversational, and to the point. He is new to Medium and needs your love and appreciation.

“This app is absolute nonsense,” I told myself as I begrudgingly set up an account. “It’s just a bunch of dumb people dancing.”

TikTok is blowing up. As the fastest growing social media platform, it’s hard to deny that they get something right. But for us creatives and intellectuals, it’s easy to write the app off as just a bunch of pandering, lowest-common-denominator bullshit.

I certainly took this approach. I scoffed at the idea of joining the app. I was better than that.

9. How Hemingway Editor Can Improve Your Writing Routine

Simon Spichak is a neuroscientist and science communicator. If you haven’t checked Hemingway Editor yet, do read this piece.

Hemingway Editor is a fantastic program to add to your writing toolkit. The great American novelist Ernest Hemingway wrote simple and effective prose. Most of Hemingway’s work has a readability between 4th and 6th grade. His books were accessible to any adult. Inspired by this simplicity, Hemingway Editor makes your document easier to read.

8. You Don’t Have to: Have an Opinion, Know That Thing, Be Busy, or Have a Purpose

Mark Basson is a self-taught developer. He writes about tech, programming, and life in general.

The torment begins in school. The teacher wants to know why you don’t know that thing. Come on, why don’t you know that thing, it’s important! God knows you have no interest in it, and you don’t know what the heck it’s for, but you just have to know it, else there’s trouble.

7. Here’s a Wild Thought: Minimum Wage Employees Have Value Too

Austin Harvey is a human who is trying his best. His style is frank, honest, and informative. Don’t forget to check his other work.

I can’t believe I have to say this, but if you work a minimum wage job, you have value as a person.

Twitter can be a great way to see live events from a worldwide perspective at any given moment. It can also be an incredibly toxic echo chamber of half-baked opinions, negativity, and frustration. And I’m ashamed to admit I fell down the rabbit hole.

6. 5 Effective Ways to Stop the Overthinking Spiral

Aurellia T. Elisha is a student. She writes poems to know life. She is trying to figure life out. She is here to be inspired and be an inspiration.

Her style is full of suspense, honesty, and curiosity. She grips you from the beginning and doesn't let go until you reach the end. If you like this story, check her other work as well.

You’re alone again in your bedroom. Mind seemingly blank.

So your mind decides to overwhelm you with thoughts, rendering you to start overthinking about even the simplest thing it can come up with.

Before you know it, you’re now worried about whether you have enough income to cover your monthly expenses, and whether you’re living a good enough life, or whether you’ll ever find the one.

5. Uncover Your Personal And Professional Blind-Spots Using This Psychological Tool

Alexandra Walker-Jones is an excellent writer and published author with an international background in psychology, nutrition, and creative writing.

Her writing style is honest, direct, and informative. She knows how to teach her readers without sounding dull. Do check her other work.

Blind-spot (noun) — an area in which a person lacks understanding or impartiality.

“There’s only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.” — Unknown

As illustrated by the definition at the beginning of this article, a blind-spot is an area that is obstructed from clear view, leading to an explicit deficiency in understanding or impartiality. In other words, blind-spots are the parts of your personality, and general modus operandi, that are unbeknownst to you.

4. How to Make Meaningful Change

Wendy Scott is a Brit living in Auckland. She is a learning and development professional who writes about leadership and personal development.

Her writing style is frank, honest, and highly engaging. She is in a writing mood these days. You can read two of her masterpieces today. Don’t forget to check her other work.

If I had kept all my New Year’s resolutions over the years, I would be skinny, fit, healthy, and have an immaculate home. With a seven-figure coaching and writing business and a string of rental properties to boot.

Alas, I’m only human, and for forty years, my New Year’s resolutions went the same way as everyone else’s. One big fat fail.

3. 5 Realistic Tips to Read More Books in 2021

Christine Kim is a reader, an observer, a reflector, and a creator. She is excellent at what she does.

Her style creates a connection with you — it is very engaging. If you read this story, you’d probably read more books in 2021.

It’s that time of the year when you are wrapping things up and reflecting on the past year, and making new resolutions for the new year. And I know that a lot of you would have this goal in mind:

Read More Books!

I have had a couple friends asking me recently how I find time to read and what can they do to read more, and I thought I would share my tips on Medium as well.

2. How I Bewitched My Boyfriend

Another one from Wendy Scott.

It took me a long time to find my boyfriend. Years of dating. So by the time I did meet him I wasn’t shy about trying anything to do with dating. I’d done it all. On-line dating, speed-dating, singles dances, executive dating services. I’d even set up a singles group of my own.

So when there was talk in singles circles of a way to make a couple fall in love, my ears pricked up.

With the help of Google, I found out what all the fuss was about.

1. A 7-Step Goal Achievement Strategy That Actually Works!

At number one, it is Roger A. Reid, Ph.D. He is an excellent writer and host of the Success Point 360 Podcast. He writes about personal development, self-improvement, work, entrepreneurship, productivity, and careers.

His style is frank, flowing, informative, and absolutely engaging. You’d fall in love with his work. Follow him, read him, and wait for his next piece.

I know many of you are busy putting together your plans for the new year. Some of you will make “resolutions,” making a list of the things in your life you want to change.

For example, you may want to stop smoking or lose weight, make more money, or find a new relationship, a better job, or perhaps change professions altogether. In short, you’re looking for a way to change or improve some situation in your life that’s not as positive or rewarding as it could be.

This post is part of the Top 10 Series for Illumination and Illumination-Curated:

1–2–3–4–5–6–7–8–9–10–11–12–13–14–15–16–17–18–19–20–21–22–23–24–25–26–27–28–29–30–31–32–33–34–35–36–37–38–39–40–41–42–43–44–45–46–47–48–49–50–51–52 –53–54–55–56–57–58

Final Thoughts

If your story was selected in the top 10 series, please share another one of your stories in the comments with a brief introduction and a short review that can convince a reader to read your piece. (Please write the review in the third person and start it with your name.)

I must have missed something today. I cannot read every story on Illumination and Illumination-Curated. Dr Mehmet Yildiz, the Chief Editor and Founder of Illumination and Illumination-Curated, read, highlighted, and applauded every good story when he started his publications. He still reads almost all of the good ones. I try — and fail daily — to read all of the masterpieces.

Dr Mehmet Yildiz has kindly allotted the top 10 series a full shelf on the front page of Illumination-Curated and Illumination:

If you find any mistake, typo, or other error, please leave a private note for correction. Thanks.

Happy New Year!

To be included as a top 10 writer, read these curation guidelines carefully.

You can read my curated stories here.