Perfectionism is defined as “a propensity for being displeased with anything that is not perfect or does not meet extremely high standards,” and it has needlessly derailed many aspiring writers. This video dives into three ways to let go of this corrosive attitude and write with freedom and joy. If you struggle with perfectionism as I have and still do, The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning by Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham might offer a bit of insight into the condition and how to let go of it.
Books mentioned in this lesson:
Postscript – PS—-Those wonderful mysteries of life…the computer. Posting my stories is always one of my late age Adventures..I did it, but have no idea how.
Rambling and Writing – this is sort of the way my mind goes off in ten different directions when I am trying to write. For some reason, writing my memoirs, at my age, seems to constantly go back to the good old days of my childhood when life seems so uncomplicated, adventuresome and, yes, childlike, which I guess I am. Here goes…a crappy writing adventure????
Perfectionism paragraphs are attached.
Here it is. MY CAT My cat is three. Her name is Angel. She is energetic. I can’t keep up with her. I had an 18 year old I had to put down. I didn’t want another cat. She was a gift. I accepted it. She was 8 weeks old. I named her Angel but she is a little devil. She destroyed the blinds climbing up to a high window. I think she likes the view from there. My landlord said she would pay for replacements this time but not again. Angel is my third pet. First, there was Brandy,… Read more »
Here’s my really bad paragraph. This was hard but it was also lots of fun. For one thing, after this there’s nowhere to go but up. What a fun way to start Monday morning.
this bad paragraph is the best I have ever read. A scene from a movie I think…it could be…so there.
Not sure about that, but it made me laugh. Maybe writing is a circle – if it’s bad enough it becomes funny, thus the sorts of contests like “It Was a Dark and Stormy Night.” Thanks, though. Certainly lots of real “steal from the poor, give to the rich” characters are out there on which to model Archie if one was a mind to.
Assignment on Imperfection: The man in his seventies was walking a pure white pit bull mix with a harness and blue leash. He let the youngish pup explore the sights and sounds of the campground at a leisurely pace. The wet streets and grass under the grey skies did not entice any lunging at other passersby, rolling around on his back or playing with balls. The pair took only a few steps at a time, paused, then repeated. Moving on and off, sometimes straight along the edge of the street, sometimes in a different direction. I imagine this type of training instills… Read more »
Here’s my bad writing attempt. Not so easy to do.
I hope this opens in MS Word. If not, let me know.
Inspired by Anne Lamott’s best selling book “Bird by Bird”, here’s my story of perfectionism entitled “Silly Bill Bird”
I was eight when I wrote it in the third grade.
My vocabulary may not have been as extensive back then but my handwriting was certainly much better than it is now.
Steven, this is delightful. I was particularly taken with “three walruses.” Isn’t it wonderful that as children we have no sense of relative size or logistical challenges involving the transport and/or consumption of walruses (or anything else). Perhaps that’s why it’s such fun to read the stories of children–that unbridled sense of possibility.
Good job, Steven. Did you save that from 3rd grade?
I’m fortunate my Mom saved things like this and all my report cards so I would not forget my earliest roots.
Wow, Steven, the writing was on the wall that you would become a proficient writer. Cute story of Silly Bill.Hope your teachers recognized the potential.
OK, here goes with my first poopy draft of our move from Las Vegas to southwest FL: It was 2005 when Randy went with me to a conference in Orlando for university faculty. I kept occasional contact with old college friends Tom and Marsha Lund. They lived in a little town Englewood near Orlando. It was impressive to see the gulf coast beaches and nice weather. With little thought, we made a decision to move to the sunshine state for retirement. My impressions: Looks like I refer to Tom and Marsha as “old.” Not intended. Used passive voice, “It was… Read more »