Perfection. It's something that many writers strive for, yet, it almost always feels out of reach. The issue is that perfection can make the writing process less creative and free, and more rigid and stressful. In fact, this relentless pursuit can stifle your creativity, delay your writing progress, and even lead to burnout. However, there are ways you can combat perfectionism when writing a novel. So, if perfectionism is holding you back from finishing—or even starting—your novel, continue reading for helpful tips and tricks.
Change the Font
I have mentioned this tip on Blue Pencil before, but that is because it's one of my favorite (and most-used) tips. Changing the font of the story in your writing can do wonders and not only boost your creativity but also help you lose some of the perfectionism that is weighing you down. So, if you always write your stories in Times New Roman, consider switching the font to something fun and playful, like Comic Sans. Changing your story's font can jumpstart your creativity and lend a fresh visual perspective. Overall, changing your story's font can be a unique way to combat perfectionism and enhance your writing process.
Set Timers
Setting timers can be another way to combat perfectionism when writing. When you set a timer for a specific amount, there really isn't time for you to overthink or worry about perfection, which encourages you to focus on getting your thoughts down without second-guessing yourself. By knowing that you have a limited amount of time you will probably feel less pressure to critique your work, allowing for a more natural flow of ideas. Timers can also help you break your writing into manageable subsets, which makes the process more creative and less overwhelming. Overall, when you allocate a specific amount of time for writing, it helps you concentrate rather than getting pressed down by perfection.
Don't Edit While Drafting
It is so crucial that you don't edit your writing while drafting it. Of course, editing is important, but you should always do it after you have gotten your words down on paper. Stopping mid-way through your writing to edit the grammar or thematic decisions can only extend the writing process and elevate your levels of perfectionism. Plus, constantly editing can lead to overthinking each sentence or paragraph, making you second-guess your creative instincts. That is why you should leave all your editing for later on in your writing process. Pausing to edit midway through your writing will hamper your process and leave you questioning your creativity.
Make Use of Breaks
Breaks are essential as a writer, especially when you are combating perfectionism. Writing all of the time without taking a break is draining and is sure to lead to burnout. That is why you need to spread out your writing over time and don't be afraid of taking breaks. Taking breaks helps curb perfectionism because it ensures that you return to your writing with renewed energy and less attachment to perfection, ultimately leading to a more fun and productive writing session. Now, there are no specific parameters when it comes to how long your breaks should be (they may be 20 minutes or 2 days), but it is always important to take breaks!
Don't be Afraid to Stop Writing
Relating to the previous point, to combat perfectionism, you need to be willing to stop writing. By knowing when to pause writing and when your story is finished, you allow yourself to recharge and reflect on your writing without feeling the need to be perfect. Overall, by embracing the idea of stopping you get to explore your creativity without the constraints of perfectionism.
Perfectionism is a common trait among many writers, however, that doesn't mean it is necessarily healthy. Thankfully, there are tips and tricks to combat your writing. By following the advice listed above, you can learn to overcome the pitfalls of perfectionism and be completely creative in the writing process.
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