Would you like to know a quick intervention to use when you find yourself unable to stop tinkering with your writing project in a quest for perfection? Here are the steps:
1: First recognize that your well-intentioned desire to make your writing as good as possible has stopped helping you and now is undermining you.
2: Think about your favorite three works in your genre. Are they perfect? No! For instance, I love Elmore Leonard’s books, but frankly sometimes they’re weak on plot. I also like Carl Hiaasen’s crazy comic novels but sometimes he gets carried away with the eccentricities of his characters; I enjoyed the film “Knocked Up” but felt that the semi-improvised bits with the guy and his roommates went on too long. Whether or not you happen to agree with these judgments, I’m pretty sure that you wouldn’t say any of these works are perfect—what’s more, neither would Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiaasen or Judd Apatow.
3. Recognize that you have reached the point where you have to let go and get your writing project out into the world. You’ll get more feedback and maybe there will be some things you will want to change—or maybe the world will be much less aware of its imperfections than you are.
4: Consider creating a little ‘the end’ ceremony or ritual to make this step more tangible.
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