The Journey of Writing a Novel:
Challenge of Perfectionism
I am writing a novel. Writing a novel is often romanticized as a solitary endeavor filled with inspiration and creativity. While there is truth to that, the path to completing a novel is rarely smooth. For every writer, the process is fraught with challenges that can feel insurmountable at times.
This blog is about perfectionism – perhaps the most insidious obstacle writers face in their creative journey. It’s a challenge that affects both novice and experienced authors alike, silently undermining our progress page by page.
Often writing a novel includes the Perfectionist Trap, where the writer believes every word must be perfect before moving forward. This mindset can lead to endless revisions of the same sentence, paragraph, chapter… Leaving the rest of the manuscript untouched. The writing enthusiasm wanes, and the story stalls as time passes in endless changes. What’s worse, this perpetual editing cycle can drain the life from our prose, making it feel sterile and overworked rather than vibrant and engaging.
The Lord of the Rings
by J.R.R. Tolkien
The desire for perfection is understandable. After all, we’ve read countless masterpieces that seem flawless in their execution. Each word appears precisely chosen, and each scene is perfectly crafted. But what we don’t see is the messy process behind these polished gems.
But how cool would it be to write like the greats? When we examine the works of renowned authors, we find wisdom not just in their perfect prose, but in their characters’ struggles with imperfection and growth.
In The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Gandalf tells Frodo: “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” This pivotal moment reminds Frodo to focus on his actions and responsibilities rather than the overwhelming scope of his quest. As writers, we too must focus on the present moment – the current word, the current page – rather than becoming paralyzed by the magnitude of our entire project.
In Dune by Frank Herbert, Duke Leto Atreides advises Paul: “A great man doesn’t seek to lead; he’s called to it. And he answers.” This lesson underscores the weight of leadership, and the humility required to embrace destiny, shaping Paul’s understanding of his future role. Similarly, as writers, we must answer the call to tell our stories, even when we doubt our abilities to tell them perfectly.
In Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn: The Final Empire, Kelsier tells Vin: “You don’t have to be ruthless to be strong.” This lesson helps Vin understand that true strength lies in compassion and conviction, shaping her approach to leadership and trust throughout the series. As writers, we too must learn to be gentle with ourselves while maintaining the discipline to move forward.
The Final Empire
by Brandon Sanderson
Everyone knows the solution to this issue of perfectionism, but they balk at the fix. A writer must embrace the messy first draft. Your novel is not going anywhere unless you finish. Finishing the first draft is about unlocking the potential of your story. It doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to exist. Once it’s on the page, you’ll have something tangible to shape and improve. Every great novel starts as a messy first draft, so take pride in completing this foundational step. Think of it as building the framework of a house; you can add the details and polish them later.
Remember, perfectionism is often just fear in disguise – fear of judgment, fear of failure, fear of not meeting our own expectations. But the only true failure in writing is letting that fear stop us from writing at all. Keep going—your future self will thank you!
JL Nich, SFF AUTHOR
