Imagine sitting at your desk, poised to unleash a torrent of words and create a literary masterpiece. The cursor blinks, a silent challenger in the quiet of your writing space. You type a sentence, only to delete it, and repeat the cycle until the page remains hauntingly blank. This scenario might sound familiar – it's the daunting pursuit of perfect prose, a pursuit that paralyzes even seasoned writers.

Here's a liberating truth: the first draft is not about perfection.

It's about unleashing your thoughts, silencing the inner critic, and understanding that it's merely the first step in a longer journey. In this craft post, I explore why embracing imperfection is not just okay but crucial for your writing success.

As a writer, you embody an artist's essence, where art's beauty unfolds through layers - a sketch, color, light, and shading. Consider the initial draft as the foundation upon which you will skillfully construct and refine your work during the drafting process. Before we get there - let's first talk about perfection pitfalls.

Perfection Pitfalls

For many new writers, the pursuit of perfection is a significant stumbling block. The urge to polish every sentence to perfection before moving on can quickly drain your creative well, leaving you with minimal progress and mounting frustration. The key, I've found, is allowing yourself to make mistakes and take risks. Early-stage over-editing can strip your work of its authenticity and unique voice. Writing and finding the story is a journey.

Top Three Perfection Pitfalls and How to Overcome Them

1. Perfection stalls progress - When you constantly aim for perfection, it can hinder your writing flow. You may find yourself stuck on a single sentence or paragraph, trying to make it flawless. This can significantly slow down your writing process. Solution: Allow yourself to write freely in the first draft. Do not worry about grammar, punctuation, or coherence. Focus on getting your ideas down first; you can refine them later.

2. Perfection stifles creativity - The quest for the perfect word or phrase can limit your creativity. In trying to write the perfect sentence, you may miss out on spontaneous and original ideas that could add depth to your work. Solution: Embrace the creative process. Let your ideas flow naturally, without judgment, and see where they lead. Leave spaces to come back later when you get stunted. For instance, I leave a placeholder [City Name] in the first draft if a city name is unknown.

3. Perfection induces stress - The pressure to achieve perfection can lead to unnecessary stress and anxiety, which can deter you from writing altogether. Solution: Understand that writing, like any other skill, requires practice. It's okay to make mistakes and learn from them. Take one step at a time and gradually improve your writing skills. As stated above, it's a journey.

Remember, the goal of your first draft is to start - not to be perfect. Be kind to yourself and let your words flow. You have the entire editing process to refine and polish your work.

Preparation is helpful for a successful first draft. This means carving out writing time and setting realistic expectations and goals. Establishing a writing schedule signals to your subconscious that it's time to write, fostering a routine that nurtures creativity. An initial outline can provide a roadmap for your story, but remember, it's not set in stone. Allow your narrative the flexibility to evolve organically as your characters and plot develop.

5 Tips for Setting Yourself Up for Success

1. Create YOUR Writing Space: Your environment can significantly influence your creativity. Design a writing space that is comfortable, free from distractions, and conducive to concentration. For example, you may prefer a quiet room with plenty of natural light, a cozy chair, and your favorite books within reach. Or the opposite may be true for you: mood music, dark focused light, ambient activities around you.

2. Set Achievable Goals: Rather than setting a daunting goal of writing an entire chapter, start with smaller, more manageable goals. For instance, aim to complete a scene in your story. Or even set a timer in sprints and work to time over production of word counts.

3. Use Writing Tools: Leverage the power of writing tools to streamline your writing process. This could include using software like Scrivener for organizing your ideas or a tool like Grammarly for preliminary grammar and spelling checks.

4. Schedule Regular Breaks: Writing is a marathon, not a sprint. It's important to take regular breaks to rest and rejuvenate your mind. For example, after every 25 minutes of writing, take a five-minute break to stretch, grab a snack, or simply look away from the screen.

5. Stay Inspired: Keep your creativity flowing by seeking inspiration regularly. This might involve reading a chapter from a book by your favorite author, taking a walk in nature, or listening to music that stirs your emotions. Inspiration fuels creativity, and staying inspired can keep your writing vibrant and engaging.

Embracing imperfection in your first draft is essential as it allows you to tap into your creative potential without the pressure of perfection. By setting yourself up for success, you can overcome the pitfalls that often hinder writers and make significant progress in your first draft. Remember, writing is a process, and your initial draft is just one step towards creating your story. So embrace the imperfections, unleash your creativity, and enjoy the journey.

It's time to take the pressure off and embrace imperfection in our first drafts. By setting ourselves up for success, avoiding common pitfalls, and staying inspired, we can unleash our writing potential and create captivating stories. So, the next time you sit down to write, remember that it's okay to make mistakes, take risks, and let your unique voice shine through. After all, the beauty of writing lies in its imperfections.

Happy writing!

(c)copyright Cassie Newell