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How to Let Go of Your Inner Perfectionist

It happens to almost every writer. Perfectionism rears its ugly head, backs us into a corner and makes us cringe with self-doubt. But why? What is it about writing that makes us so incredibly self-conscious? Perhaps it's because once those words are in print, there's no taking them back. Seems like timidity is only natural.

Still, there are ways to tame the Perfectionist Monster. Here are a few tips to quickly strengthen your defenses:

  1. Draft a (quick) outline. Writing is so much easier if we have some idea where we're going. An outline serves to automatically organize thoughts. By doing this, some thoughts will naturally rise to the surface; others may disappear completely. And that's okay; it's "survival of the fittest," and we want those weaker ideas weeded out anyway. Besides, even outlines can be changed— there's plenty of wiggle room here too.
  2. Just write. No one ever said procrastination would tame perfectionism, though I'm sure we've all tried it a time or two. To move toward "perfection" at all, we have to actually get words on the page. So another tip is to simply sit in the chair and make something (anything!) appear.
  3. Wear one hat at a time. You've got two hats—writer and editor. Try to wear both hats at once, and one inevitably gets shoved off (that sound you just heard was your writer hat hitting the floor). Resist the urge to edit until you've "completed" your article. Then go back and spiff it up however you see fit. If you'll allow some time between hats, you'll be able to be more objective.
  4. Be kind to yourself. Don't second-guess yourself so much. Give yourself credit for the knowledge you have at hand. You're writing from your bank of knowledge, and your opinions, not someone else's. Go with it!

Hopefully, these tips will help you permanently ward off that Perfectionist Monster. If not, try to remember those classic words once written by author Margaret Mitchell, "After all…tomorrow is another day." (She probably never thought her writing was perfect either.)