The Two Words That Will Cure You of Writer Perfectionism
And 10 Steps to Move Forward
I have a problem.
Maybe you have a problem that’s similar.
Whenever I sit down to write something, I expect it to be good.
And not just plain ole’ vanilla good.
I want my writing to be gripping, jaw-dropping, set-the-world-ablaze spectacular.
Is that too much to ask?
Yes, it is.
It’s borderline delusional.
Why?
Because I’ve only just taken my writing seriously for a few months. Not only is it a bit premature. It’s a little disrespectful to the craft.
I haven’t practiced enough.
Also, even if you have the consistency behind you, applying pressure to yourself is just a bad strategy.
It’s a bad set up.
Get this.
Why do we expect to be world-class at well, anything?
Because we’re self-indulgent and arrogant?
Close.
Mostly, because we’re misguided.
As artists, we don’t often embrace the two words that free us from perfectionism.
We’ve forgotten the magic of using them to detach from outcomes.
Do you know the two words I’m referring to?
It’s what we all learned in our first writing and English literature classes in school.
Before the days of on-demand content and social platforms, this term was pretty standard.
What is this two-word phrase that will empower you?
Rough draft.
Yes, rough draft.
Start Developing a Rough Draft Mindset
“I think the trouble starts when you sit down to write and imagine that you will achieve something magical and magnificent — and when you don’t, panic sets in. The solution is never to sit down and imagine that you will achieve something magical and magnificent.” — Malcolm Gladwell
A rough draft or first draft is simply the first version of your writing.
A basic sketch of your ideas.
Mostly though, I’m speaking of not just rough drafts in the literal sense. “Rough draft” is a mindset to keep you agile while creating.
Rough drafts are the practice swings of writing and creating. And you get as many at-bats as you want.
For as long as you keep the mindset that creativity is all learn-as-you-go.
In the literal sense of a rough draft, when a writer gets an idea, she pulls out her notepad and writes about that topic.
Regardless of errors in grammar, spelling, and subject relevance, she continues writing. Sometimes, this would occur over the course of a few hours or even days — yes, days.
A rough draft allows the writer to just write. To flesh out their thoughts and think of nothing else.
This is how the creative process should be.
Most murals are not the result of an artist’s first try. This type of undertaking requires time invested in learning the craft.
Don’t make the mistake of believing you can do everything in one fell swoop.
I blame the Internet for this false perception.
Don’t Fall For the Pressure Trap
Nowadays, if you don’t write a rough draft, or at least write with a first rough mindset, you put tremendous pressure on yourself to create on-demand.
While this pressure could be a good thing, it still stunts the creative growth of many writers.
Only if you think of your writing like improv and you aim to write on a whim with little self-criticism — then yes, this will work for you.
But for most of us, it’s better to alleviate that pressure of creating something perfect on the spot.
Don’t fall into the pressure trap.
This is the act of creating imagined pressure on yourself due to your own, unrealistic expectations. It’s similar to expecting to ace the bar exam when you’ve never read one law book.
Don’t do this, please.
Instead of trying to pull a rabbit out a hat with every article, focus your attention on continuous improvement with each draft.
Yes, there will be times where you fall short of your goals. But remember, it’s all practice.
If you write something terrible, it doesn’t mean you’re a terrible writer. As long as you’re improving on your mistakes, you’ll be fine.
You are Not Your Writing: Good or Bad
What’s more relevant to you, however, is your output — the effort that you put forth, despite your lack of experience, talent, or knowledge.
If you find yourself stalling because you are seeking perfection upon the first draft, remember these 10 things to move forward:
- Accept that bad writing is unavoidable — expert or not.
- Each new sentence or piece you write is an investment in your experience bank.
- Write and create more than yesterday.
- Learn the art of detachment.
- Keep practicing resiliently.
- Keep practicing resiliency (not a typo).
- Accept discomfort and uncertainty.
- Push negative thoughts aside.
- Be the artist first. Be the editor later.
- Play the long game, forever.
Final Thoughts
Finally, the rough draft concept is designed so that you never judge your work or yourself too harshly. Keep at it, no matter what. Good or bad. Doesn’t matter if you’re just starting or have been doing this for ten years, your mindset will shape your approach. As a creative, it’s imperative that you think about your art in a way that accepts mistakes and reduces perfectionism.
Now starting creating things and making mistakes. I know you can do it. I believe in you.