Struggling with perfectionism in your creative process? I certainly am. As I dive deeper into the world of writing and publishing, I’ve found myself trapped in what feels like an endless loop of revisions. It’s not that I don’t believe in the quality of my work—it’s more that I can always see room for improvement. Every time I review a chapter or a page, I find something else to refine, something I can tweak to make it just a little bit better. And yet, here I am, wondering: When is it ever enough?
The Perfectionism Paradox
Perfectionism is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it drives us to create better, more polished work. It keeps us aiming for higher standards and encourages us to be thorough in our efforts. But on the other hand, it can be paralyzing. It’s easy to get lost in the details, tweaking and re-tweaking, and before you know it, the project that should have been finished is still “in progress” months or even years later.
The question becomes, “How do we find balance?” How do we know when our work is ready to share with the world instead of endlessly revisiting it?
The Constant Search for Perfection
Here’s the truth: No matter how many times I edit, the work is never perfect. There’s always something more I could do. Maybe a sentence could be better worded. Maybe a detail could be explained more clearly. Maybe that one paragraph could flow better. This is a natural part of the writing process. But it also becomes easy to fall into the trap of believing that perfection is the goal.
The reality is that perfection often stands in the way of progress. Instead of obsessing over tiny details, it’s better to step back and ask, “Does this communicate what I intend to say? Am I delivering value to my audience?”
Tea Break! Maybe Coffee Time! Walk the Pets! Wash Dishes! Take Out Trash! Run Some Errands! Answer My Phone! Paint My Studio! Wash Cloths! Check for Package Delivery! More Amazon…
You get the idea, right? Sometimes stepping away from your work, whether it’s for a brief moment or a few hours, can help you return to it with fresh eyes. These little “breaks” actually help you avoid the perfectionism trap by reminding you that life doesn’t wait for your work to be perfect—it’s all about moving forward.
Why Perfection Isn’t Always the Goal
Here’s something I’ve come to realize: It’s not about creating perfect work—it’s about creating work that resonates with others. It’s about offering something of value that’s helpful, engaging, or thought-provoking. Sometimes, the “imperfections” in our work give it character, making it relatable to the reader. After all, the idea of perfection is subjective. What one person might consider perfect, another may not. That’s the beauty of creativity!
How I Handle the Struggle
I’ve learned to embrace the process, knowing that I’ll always find areas for improvement, but that doesn’t mean my work will never be “good enough.” Here are a few strategies I use to break free from the perfectionism cycle:
Set Limits for Each Round of Editing: I try to define a clear goal for each round of edits. For example, “This round, I’m focusing only on grammar and clarity.” This helps me stay focused and prevents me from diving into new details that don’t serve the overall goal.
Ask for Feedback: Sometimes, we’re too close to our work to see what’s truly needed. Asking others for feedback—whether that’s a colleague, a fellow writer, or a reader—can provide fresh perspectives and help me see what’s really working (or not working).
Give Myself Deadlines: One of the toughest things is knowing when to stop. I give myself clear deadlines to wrap up edits. Once the deadline passes, I take a deep breath and move forward.
Release Imperfect Work: Perfection is an ongoing journey, but progress happens when we take action. Sometimes, releasing work that’s “good enough” instead of perfect opens the door to growth and learning.
Taking Action Over Perfecting
As a writer, my work will never be perfect. I’ll always have something I can tweak, something I can improve, but if I let that stop me, I’d never get anything done. That’s why I’ve made peace with the fact that I can always improve—but I also know when to step away and say, “It’s time to move on.”
In the end, it’s all about progress. The more I release and share, the more I learn. And with each project, I get closer to the person and the writer I want to be.
Conclusion: The Power of Moving Forward
The struggle with perfectionism is real, but it doesn’t need to hold you back. Whether it’s a book, a podcast, or a simple blog post, take action and share your work. Don’t wait until everything is perfect. You’ll get better as you go, and your audience will appreciate the progress you make, not just the polished end result.
Embrace the imperfections. Your work is good enough to be shared.
