As an editor, the idea of getting writing to be “perfect” is always at the back of my mind. When it comes to my own writing, perfectionism is one of the most debilitating ideologies that plagues me. Notice I didn’t say “used to plague me”. Even as I write this article there are parts of me that cringe at the thought of publishing these blogs and getting my thoughts and ideas “out there”.
When it comes to a manuscript I’m editing, there’s an internal obsession with reading and rereading that has me scouring over sentences and paragraphs like someone possessed. It works out great for the authors I work with, yet the anxiety of “what if I missed something” keeps me up at night.
And in our modern world of cancel culture and grammar nazis, there’s no wonder over the idea of a writer scrambling to get writing to be “perfect”. It’s expected that a writer would do everything humanly possible to ensure that their writing is error free. No writer wants to be called out for misspellings or punctuation out of place, or even worse, an ill conceived idea or description.
Negative Amazon reviews can be crippling to sales…and egos.
There’s always something to change. There’s always something that “should” have been said differently or explored more. But this is a problem that needs to be addressed because it stops many writers from sharing their wisdom and creativity with the world.
At this point, I can almost hear the protests from the perfectionists reading this article (actually, I hear the protests quite clearly coming from my own mind). Thoughts of “sloppy writing” and “sloppy articles” and self-publishing being the bane of the writing world because it allows “anyone” to put “anything” out there.
Here’s the thing, there’s a writing process for a reason.
Part of that writing process is reviewing and editing a manuscript. This review and editing process has several steps which include checks and balances, second and third pairs of eyes to help evaluate and catch mistakes. The key is to see this as a natural part of the writing process so that you’re able to put the right systems in place.
Then you just have to let it go.
Yes, I know, that’s the kind of statement that can get a perfectionist twitching and dismissing everything else that comes afterward as heresy. But bear with me.
While it’s natural to strive for excellence and produce high-quality work, aiming for perfection can be counterproductive. Here are five reasons why perfectionism in writing and being published is not helpful:
- Perfection is subjective: Perfection is a highly subjective concept, and what one person perceives as perfect may not be the same for another. Writing, like any art form, is open to interpretation and personal preference. Trying to meet an impossible standard of perfection can stifle creativity and self-expression.
- Fear of failure and criticism: The desire for perfection can create a fear of failure and criticism. Writers may become overly self-critical and hesitant to share their work, fearing that it will never be good enough. This fear can prevent them from taking risks and exploring new ideas, which limits their growth and development as writers.
- Perfectionism leads to procrastination: The pursuit of perfection can often lead to procrastination. Writers may spend excessive amounts of time revising and editing their work, endlessly chasing an unattainable ideal. This focus on achieving perfection can become a form of avoidance, preventing them from moving forward and completing their projects.
- Learning through imperfection: Writing is a process of learning and improvement. It’s through the act of writing, making mistakes, and receiving feedback that writers refine their skills and develop their unique voice. Embracing imperfection allows for experimentation, exploration, and learning from both successes and failures.
- Time constraints and practicality: In many professional writing settings, there are practical limitations on how much time can be devoted to a single piece. Whether it’s a deadline-driven project or a need for efficiency, writers often need to strike a balance between quality and timeliness. Perfectionism can hinder the ability to meet these practical requirements.
So, there comes a point when you simply have to let it go or you’ll never be published.
I’m not talking about releasing all effort at revising and working toward making your writing better. What I’m talking about is creating a process that has the steps necessary to complete revision within a scheduled time. So get the developmental edit done, get the fact-checking done, get the copy-editing done, get the proofreading done, get a beta reader. Do the things that help you refine your ideas and better connect with your audience.
But set a limit on when changes can be made and when the review should end.
If errors are noticed afterward, think “revised edition” and fix it. Depending on what the errors are, they can even be left that way. There’s no reason to bludgeon your confidence over mistakes, especially if you had those second and third set of eyes review your writing and the mistakes were still overlooked. Learn from them and make your next publication even better.
Mistakes happen, even to the “big” publishers with an army of editors and multistep systems.
Ask yourself if the error significantly detracts from the message, if it deters readers from engaging with your book in the intended way, and how you can make the changes after the fact to keep your readers and sales.
What is your ultimate goal? Are you into being perfect or into getting your book into the hands of readers and bringing in those sales?
So don’t stifle your creativity by trying to make your writing perfect. Find the support you need to get your manuscript to the highest quality within a set timeframe, and get your book published.
Then, take a deep breath as you remember that writing is a process of constantly developing and you’re getting better with each interaction.
And, as always, happy writing.
