I’m just going to come right out and say it: perfection might not be the holy grail of writing after all. In fact, as a recovering perfectionist, I’m going to say that imperfection—especially when it comes to writing—may be the secret sauce you need to make your writing better—like the sauce Cane’s gives you with their ever-so-delicious chicken tenders. The chicken tenders are good, but with their secret sauce —they’re fabulous! (And trust me…they didn’t develop that yummy sauce on the first try!)
The same goes for your writing. It’s the imperfections that will make it amazing in the end.
Don’t believe me? Hear me out!
First things first, let’s address the elephant in the room—perfection doesn’t exist. Nope, not even in the elusive land of writing. Sure, we’ve all read those beautifully crafted novels and thought, “Wow, I wish I could write like that!” But here’s the thing – behind every flawless paragraph lies a tangled web of revisions, edits, and enough self-doubt to make even the most confident writer question their sanity.
But the power comes in embracing imperfection. Embracing imperfection is like giving yourself permission to dance like nobody’s watching—liberating, empowering, and oh-so-much fun. So why should you abandon perfection? Well, here’s why I did.
For starters, striving for perfection can be downright paralyzing. Picture this: you sit down at your desk, poised to write the next Great American Novel. But wait, every sentence you type feels inadequate, every word choice scrutinized under a microscope. Before you know it, you’re stuck in a never-ending cycle of self-doubt, unable to move forward. Sound familiar? Yeah, been there, done that. Can’t do it anymore.
Not to mention, perfectionism sucks the joy out of writing faster than a vacuum cleaner sucks up crumbs. When you’re hyper-focused on achieving flawlessness, it’s easy to forget why you fell in love with writing in the first place. Suddenly, creativity takes a backseat to precision, and before you know it, your once vibrant prose feels as lifeless as a soggy sponge.
But it doesn’t have to be this way! When you embrace your flaws, you find that imperfection isn’t the enemy—it’s your greatest ally in the quest for authentic, relatable writing.
Think about it this way: some of the most memorable characters in literature are flawed to the core. From Elizabeth Bennet’s prejudice to Bridget Jones’ clumsiness, imperfection adds depth and complexity to storytelling. So why should our writing be any different?
Plus, embracing imperfection opens the door to growth and improvement. When we let go of the pressure to be perfect, we free ourselves to take risks, experiment with new styles, and learn from our mistakes. After all, rough drafts and rougher edges are what pave the way for literary greatness.
So, I urge you to let go of the shackles of perfectionism. Embrace the messy, the plot holes, the cringe-worthy dialogue. Trust me, it’s good for you—and it will be good for your readers.
Cheers to messy drafts, botched metaphors, and the beautiful chaos of creativity. After all, imperfections make life—and writing—one heck of an adventure.