Endless Editing
The NaNoWriMo Diaries:
Overcoming Self-Doubt and Perfectionism
While racing against the clock during National Novel Writing Month writers use many different coping mechanisms to deal with the stress and high expectations that come with tight deadlines or demanding writing projects. Join me as we dive into the waters of a writer’s self-doubt and perfectionism to explore how to conquer them. What is Self-Doubt? This is when writers doubt the quality of their writing during the month-long challenge. This leads to self-criticism and a fear of producing a subpar manuscript, hindering progress. And perfectionism goes hand in hand. Some writers are perfectionists and want every sentence to be perfect before moving on. It’s essential to embrace imperfection and focus on quantity over quality, at least during the drafting phase.
Hold on to your quill folks, because lurking in the shadows of the NaNoWriMo challenge is a formidable foe: Self-Doubt. Yes, that pesky gremlin that creeps into every writer’s mind, casting doubt on the quality of their prose and whispering tales of impending subpar manuscripts. Self-doubt often brings along its steadfast companion, Perfectionism, creating a duo that writers must contend with in their creative journeys. Perfectionism wants every sentence to be perfect before moving on.
Self-doubt and perfectionism often go hand in hand, creating a challenging cocktail that can be a particularly strong libation for writers and creators. Recognizing how they work together is essential for breaking free from their grip.
- Relentless Self-Criticism: Like a never-ending storm, each criticizing raindrop makes a harsh judgment, and each thunderclap is a reminder of your perceived shortcomings, relentlessly pouring down on your creative spirit. Perfectionism encourages the writer to set impossibly high standards, and self-doubt fuels the belief that you’ll never meet those standards. This combination leads to a cycle where you constantly question your abilities and the quality of your work.
- Fear of Failure: Like a heavy anchor tied to your creativity, dragging it down and making every creative endeavor feel like a treacherous voyage, where the slightest misstep could send you sinking into the abyss of self-doubt, perfectionists are often deeply afraid of making mistakes or producing anything less than perfect. Self-doubt amplifies this fear by convincing you that any mistake or imperfection reflects your inadequacy as a writer or creator.
- Procrastination: The fear of not meeting perfectionist standards can lead to procrastination, like a comfortable, yet treacherous, quicksand pit. It feels inviting to linger on its edge, but the longer you stand there, the deeper you sink into the murky depths of missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential. Self-doubt plays a role by making you doubt your ability to complete a task perfectly, leading to avoidance and delays in starting or finishing projects.
- Endless Editing: Perfectionism and self-doubt can result in endless editing and revising, as you strive to make your work flawless. This constant tinkering can paralyze and prevent you from feeling satisfied with your work. Like an artist constantly retouching their masterpiece, each stroke is an attempt to chase an ever-elusive vision of perfection, yet the canvas remains endlessly evolving, never truly complete.
Negative Self-Talk
- Lack of Risk-Taking: Perfectionism and self-doubt can stifle creativity and risk-taking. It is a writer who refuses to venture beyond the well-trodden path, always staying within the safety of familiar terrain. You may avoid trying new ideas or genres because you fear they won’t meet your high standards or because self-doubt convinces you that you’ll fail. A safe and conventional writing path can lead to a stagnant and predictable body of work.
- Negative Self-Talk: Both self-doubt and perfectionism contribute to negative self-talk. You may engage in harsh self-criticism, berating yourself for not being good enough or for any perceived flaws in your work. Examples are:
- Imposter Syndrome: “I don’t belong here. I’m not a real writer. Everyone else is so much better than me.”
- Comparisons: “I’ll never be as talented as [famous author i.e., J K Rowling]. My writing will never measure up.”
- Perfectionism: “This draft is terrible. I can’t believe I thought this was good enough. I’m a failure.”
- Fear of Rejection: “No one will ever like my work. I’m just setting myself up for rejection.”
- Self-Doubt: “I don’t have any original ideas. My writing is boring and uninteresting.”
- Catastrophizing: “If I submit this, everyone will laugh at how bad it is. I’ll become a laughingstock.”
- Minimizing Achievements: “Sure, I finished the novel, but it’s not a big deal. Anyone could have done it.”
- Negative Labels: “I’m just a hack. My writing is garbage.”
- Future Pessimism: “I’ll never get published. Even if I do, nobody will read my book.”
- Overgeneralization: “I got rejected once, so I’ll always get rejected. I’m just not cut out for this.”
- Burnout: The combination of perfectionism and self-doubt can lead to burnout. The constant pressure to meet unrealistic standards and the internal struggle with doubt can drain your creative energy and enthusiasm. Like driving a car on an empty tank of gas. At first, you may keep going, but eventually, the engine sputters, and you grind to a halt, unable to move forward until you refuel.”
To combat this challenging mix, it’s essential to practice self-compassion, set realistic goals, and acknowledge that imperfection is a natural part of the creative process. Learning to embrace mistakes and view them as opportunities for growth can help break the cycle of self-doubt and perfectionism, allowing you to enjoy a healthier and more fulfilling creative journey.
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Check out my Youtube channel for PLOTTR videos @jlnichauthorsff
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