Writers Perfectionism
Often what some people call "writer's block" is really a case of perfectionism, leading to procrastination, gone wild. I'd say that this is often the case. Steven Hendlin, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist, recently posted the first part of an article on this phenomenon on the Backspace website. See YOUR WRITE MIND: The Perfection Trap: Part 1Hint: "for the perfectionist, good enough is never enough."
I also think Hendlin's advice is pertinent for people who don't know when to stop editing or rewriting their work, to those who are never satisfied with what they write, and those who suffer from rejection slip intolerance.
posted by Georganna Hancock M.S. | 7:12 PM
6 Comments:
Oh, AMEN! I have worked with a few people who miss deadlines because the thought of handing in something that isn't (and frankly, never will be) perfect just cripples them. I have a girlfriend who, for three years now, has rewritten the same short story because she's never happy with it. What's funny is her version three tries ago was her best. Then she got frustrated that the characters were too "scattered" (no, that's the writer!) - she then completely deadened them. That's the worst part about perfectionism - it usually results in bland copy.
Perfectionism may start at childhood if you don't get to do enough difficult stuff. I saw this when J. for the first time in her life participated in a competition. She wasn't used to get a challenge, because everything was too easy. Suddenly, the emotions (fear of failure) peaked. She didn't do it as well as she could, but I learned an important lesson that day about parenting. It is very important to challenge children.
Odile
http://schmiodile.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the professional support, Lori. It's really difficult to be someone's editor when you must also educate them about the publishing process/industry and function as a therapist, too! And Odile, I think perfectionism can also develop from having perfectionistic parents; at least, a very controlling mother who expects the child to do everything "right", even the first time, can lead to a person who is afraid to make a mistake. Ever.
Perfectionism = writer's block. This is the truth!
I try to remember that saying (was it Hemingway?) "First get it down, then get it right." That usually helps knock me out of a block.
Hi Bonnie! Your quotation sounds like something Ray Bradbury or Anne ("shitty first drafts") Lamott would say. I know Bradbury advocates first just getting it out and not worrying about how it sounds, etc. Perhaps this pertains more aptly to fiction, where a writer might have many ideas at once about the piece and need to capture them on paper before they are supplanted by new ideas (human buffer overflow). I had newspaper training at the beginning of my career writing, when it had to be written both quickly and well. Seldom time for rewrites on daily deadlines.
Yesterday I spoke to the new director of the new school of my 2 youngest children. He said they have learned from past experience. Gifted children develop perfectionism when they don't get difficult enough lessons. They start avoiding challenges and making mistakes.
To think that everything has to be right in one trial is typical of bright children. Reading 1 time = knowing.
A layered strategy is one possible solution. Write a draft and worry about mistakes later is another.
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