Here’s a comment I hear from new writers: “I want to edit and polish my writing as I go, but I wind up getting nowhere because I’m obsessed with making it perfect the first time.”
This is so often the case starting out. You want every word to shine and sparkle and dazzle. So you spend a day or a week or a month or forever trying to get that first chapter to be perfect.
In my opinion, this is a crutch. It’s an excuse. It’s a disease that infects all writers when they first start out. And it will eat you alive with a good chance that your writing will be damaged. It’s an easy trap to fall into. So how do you get past this nasty little hang-up?
First, you must convince yourself that NOTHING is perfect, especially when it comes to writing fiction. Now I’m not talking about spelling, punctuation, grammar and syntax. Those are the rules of writing just like the speed limit and stop lights are the rules of the road. But those rules have NOTHING to do with perfection, only correctness. Perfection is a mental concept. It can never be achieved. There will always be room for improvement.
Next, you must allow yourself to write less-than-perfect prose the first time with the understanding that it’s more important to tell the story.
Another tip that helps is to come up with a set of REALISTIC goals that drive your writing. Your goals should be reasonable and obtainable. Make them short-term, easy and convenient. Such as: I will write 500 words per day. I will not look at what I’ve written until I complete 5000 words. I will not stop writing each day until I finish the current chapter. You get the idea. Make your goals reasonable so perfectionism doesn’t get in the way.
I believe that perfectionism creates doubt. Doubt smothers creativity. It slows the stream of consciousness. Allow yourself to shape the story first no matter how rough, then carve out the details. And remember that you’re the only one demanding that your writing be perfect. Give yourself a break and just tell the story.
Harry Shaw, in his book Errors in English and Ways to Correct Them, said, “There is no such thing as good writing. There is only good rewriting.” Science fiction master thriller writer Michael Crichton said: “Books are not written–they’re rewritten.”
So don’t worry about perfection. Work at telling a good story.
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Coming this summer: THE TOMB, book #3 in the bestselling Maxine Decker thriller series. This time, Decker must stop the assassination of not one but all nine justices of the Supreme Court. Vengeance can be earth-shattering.
This is definitely something I need to work on. I spend ages planning a story, trying to get every detail of the plot perfect, but I end up never actually writing the thing. Going to try setting some manageable short term goals like you suggest. Thanks.
All the Best,
Matthew.
I hope it helps. Thanks, Matthew.
Well said~ if you never finish it it will never be “perfect” (whatever THAT is)…
Besides, how many concerts have you been to and heard the artist’s lyrics changed in a spot or two from the recording you know so well (Jimmy Buffet is a prime example). Of course performance art is a “fluid” medium, but the point remains~ if you didn’t finish, you’ll never get the chance to tweek.
G., the live performance compare is a good one. No matter what, just keep going. Thanks for your comments.
In writing, as in so many other areas, the “best” is the enemy of the good.
Excellent comment, Mike.
Good reminder, Joe. My high school English teacher, Mrs. Bruce, gave me a Thurber quote for first drafts: “Don’t get it right, just get it written.”
I also like Heinlein’s advice for writers:
1. You must write
2. You must finish what you write
Good stuff as always, Jim. Thanks.
Finally a math problem I can get right the first time!
When I write my first draft, I keep telling myself I can’t edit what I haven’t written. Thanks for a timely article.
You’re welcome, Patricia. Hope it helps.
Great post, Joe.
My tendency is to want to polish as I write. But as I keep working at heeding the advice you’re giving, I find I am less “married” to what I’ve written, more willing to throw it out, and more willing to do major “remodeling.”
I like the “…perfectionism creates doubt. Doubt smothers creativity.” Hadn’t thought of that before, but I see your point. The rougher the first “sloppy copy,” the more willing my brain is to look at the big picture – discard, add, refine, or rearrange.
Thanks for a great post.
You’re welcome, Steve. I guess it boils down to allowing yourself to write imperfect in order to get the story out. As my co-author like to say, “Just write through it.”
This is definitely an issue that hangs up many wannabe writers. They keep going over the same pages and never move forward. You can’t second guess yourself. Write the first draft and then go back and revise. Nothing will EVER be perfect, no matter how many read-throughs you do. You’ll always find something to fix. It’s the nature of the job. Good post, Joe.
Thanks, Nancy.
Not just wannabes, Nancy. I should have this entire post tattooed on my forehead.
🙂
Tattoos are in right now, Kris. 🙂
After so many revision rounds, we get blinded to our own work. Then it’s time to send it in.
You start to only see what you want to see.
Joe, when I was practicing medicine I heard my friend, the late Dr. Bill Wright, say something about rhinoplasty surgery that has stuck with me. It’s equally applicable to writing: Perfect is the enemy of good.
It will never, this side of Heaven, be perfect. Do your very best, polish it, edit and rewrite, and then–for goodness’ sake–send it on and get started on the next one. Perfect is the enemy of good.
Thanks for the reminder.
So true, Richard. Thanks for the anecdote.
Thank you. I practice “puking on the page” as advised by one New York Best Selling Author. I rewrite my blog at least 5 times. My creative juices flow as I type the original draft. I would loose many ideas(and my mind) if I had to write with perfection the first time.
Thanks for visiting TKZ, Cherrilynn.
Today I do not have to write a perfect chapter. Today I don’t even have to write a good chapter. Today I have to write a thousand words that I hope will move the character along, get him either deeper into or a step out of the swamp of the story. That’s all.
Great mantra, John.