The Inherent Danger in Perfectionism for Writers (and Humans)

This next chapter is a short one (they all are really because Lamott doesn’t mince words). The focus is perfectionism and the danger it poses toward you as a writer.

I would say it poses just as much a threat to you as a person.

Here’s what Lamott writes:

“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft.”

SO true, right?

We have got to stop trying to be perfect. Stop avoiding writing (or living or loving or trying pretty much anything) just because we might do it badly.

We WILL do it badly. But that’s where you start. Everyone starts.

Here’s what Vonnegut said about it:

“When I write, I feel like an armless, legless man with a crayon in my mouth.”

If Vonnegut feels that way about his writing attempts, who are we to think we won’t write crap?

And here’s Lamott again:

“Perfectionism is a mean, frozen form of idealism, while messes are the artist’s true friend.”

You wouldn’t condemn the first efforts of a friend’s writing, so why do you do the same to yourself?

(And here again, I have to draw the parallel to life. We judge ourselves with a much harsher standard than we would ever judge a casual acquaintance.)

Reading this chapter brought back a moment in my own writing where I took a leap of faith. I’d been writing and writing for years but sharing none of it because I didn’t think it was ‘good enough.’ I’d sent out a few queries and been rejected and took that as the final say on my abilities as a writer.

And then one spring day fifteen years ago, I thought, “What if I just don’t care how dumb I look? What if I just take this chance and be brave and put my words out there?”

So I started a blog.

And from that blog, I got braver and braver. And I sold magazine articles and became a columnist for my paper.

And then I got an agent and a publishing contract, and then a book deal. And in 2015, I’m Not Her was published.

And maybe you know the rest of the story.

Is my writing great literature? Certainly not.

Do I care?

Truth? Somedays, yes.

But most days I am just grateful that the words flow, and I get to do this. So I let them spill out on the page in all their messy, embarrassing glory. And I trust that they just might land on a heart that needs them.

Hey, thanks for reading. I know you’ve got lots of options, so thanks for sharing a few of your minutes with me.

Honored,

Cara

If you’re curious about what else I’m up to, check out my website, CaraWrites.com.

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My latest novel, Blind Turn is a mother-daughter story of forgiveness in the aftermath of a fatal texting and driving accident. It won the Womens Fiction category of the American Writing Awards in 2022. Learn more about it and find out how to get your copy here.

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