I’m Doing a 250 Word Writing Challenge to Conquer Perfectionism

Summary

Gary Buzzard is embarking on a 30-day writing challenge, publishing daily 250-word posts to overcome perfectionism and improve his writing practice.

Abstract

Gary Buzzard, a writer focused on mindfulness and meditation, is tackling his battle with perfectionism through a personal writing challenge. He plans to publish a short post every day for 30 days, with each piece ranging from 250 to 500 words. This challenge is designed to force him out of his habit of overthinking and second-guessing his work, which often leads to prolonged writing periods and eventual disinterest in his articles. By committing to this 30 for 30 challenge, Buzzard aims to increase his writing frequency, reduce the time spent on each piece, and ultimately enhance his craft by letting go of the need for perfection. He acknowledges that this will be a form of writer's therapy and hopes to enter a more consistent flow state, rather than the sporadic and often elusive state he currently experiences. Buzzard's writing explores the concept of mindfulness, drawing on teachings from figures like Eckhart Tolle, who discuss the pitfalls of being overly identified with one's thoughts. By applying these mindfulness principles to his writing process, Buzzard seeks to break free from the cave of his writing fears and embrace the identity of a writer who writes consistently, regardless of the outcome.

Opinions

Buzzard admits to struggling with writer's block due to perfectionism, which hinders his writing process and enjoyment.
He believes that by setting a goal to publish shorter pieces daily, he can overcome his tendency to overthink and procrastinate.
Buzzard draws a parallel between the mindfulness concept of not being one's thoughts and the need to escape the trap of over-analyzing his writing.
He is embracing the idea that a writer must write regularly, accepting that not all pieces will be of high quality, to grow and improve in his craft.
Despite the challenge, Buzzard is optimistic about entering a flow state more frequently and developing a more disciplined writing habit.
He is transparent about his past output and his desire to increase both the quantity and quality of his work through this challenge.
Buzzard invites readers to subscribe to his updates, indicating his commitment to this writing journey and his willingness to share his progress with an audience.

Thirty posts in 30 days.

I have a terrible case of second-guessing, overthinking, low confidence writer’s syndrome. And I’m going to do writer’s therapy right here.

I’m mad at myself. I need to do something about my perfectionism. It takes me days to finish an article. And by the time I finish, I’m sick of it. (But I think I can publish 250-word pieces every day.)

Every once in a while, I get into a low-rent flow state, and the ideas begin to spill out. But that’s rare. I’m usually in a stall — sputtering and coughing like a small plane trying to pull up.

I’m trying to write long-form before I have the equipment. I’m punching above my weight.

Mindful Writing — Is That a Thing?

I write about mindfulness and meditation. A constant theme in my work is that we are not our thoughts —that our thinking gets in the way of seeing reality.

Eckhart Tolle talks about how people 100 percent identified with their thoughts live in an unconscious state. They’re living in Plato’s cave. Instead of seeing reality, they only see shadows.

I’m living in a cave of my writing fears.

So Here’s the Deal — I’ll Publish One 250–500 Word Post Every Day

I’m a writer. I have never said that before. I’ll say it again, I’m a writer — and writers write!

I’ve written on this platform for ten months and published 39 stories. I can do better.

So I’m going to do my own 30 for 30. My stories will be shorter, about 250–500 words — 2–3 minutes. By keeping my stories brief, I’ll get more practice writing and toss my perfectionism into the round file.

I’m posting 30 for 30— even if they’re crappy, I’m going to put them up! Bootcamp.

I’ll see you tomorrow.

I’m Doing a 250 Word Writing Challenge to Conquer Perfectionism

Thirty posts in 30 days.

Mindful Writing — Is That a Thing?

So Here’s the Deal — I’ll Publish One 250–500 Word Post Every Day

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