Because I think a few of us may need this now or at some point

[xerinmichellex]

So this made for an interesting read this morning: Perfect is the Enemy of Good

I kinda want to print this out and stare at it. Because: This. "This" is all I have to say. Bracken perfectly captures what I've been going through for the past 4 years. The paralyzing need to get it "right" the first time; the futile attempts of telling yourself you can't correct what isn't there; the internalized self-doubt and self-loathing.

The thing is, I'm sure reading this article isn't going to suddenly make everything all right. But, on some level, I think knowing I'm not alone helps. In the end, it does come down to me figuring out a way to stick to a single story idea. To write down that story idea. To understand that a terrible, no good first draft is okay. To accept that I don't need to be so hard on my writing.

To stop being so hard on myself.

Comments

[gothrockrulz.livejournal.com]

Or, because I have such a clear vision, I feel like I'm OVER writing everything and trying to capture every minute detail, which can make for a very boring read.

Oh, yes. I can relate to that very much. It's so hard to splash your imagination properly across a page, by hand or by computer or phone or what-have-you. Whatever is reflected back at you doesn't always seem to work.

As opposed to reading the writing of others, where the only imagery you have to go on is what the words invoke in your mind, and so you love it if it's good (even if the author can't stand it).

Ah, the woes and joys and more woes of writing.