Write Things: On Seeking Imperfection

As a teacher, I’m invigorated by the growth of others. I’m grateful that teaching and coaching are part of my life for this reason.

Today’s newsletter is inspired by a specific type of growth.

Idea: On Perfection

If you’ve been following along for a while, you know I’m no fan of perfectionism. Acting on perfectionist beliefs literally shuts down our creativity. Judgment and curiosity cannot coexist.

We can’t wonder what something is and tell it what it is—just like we can’t talk and listen at the same time.

And this is where I’ve been seeing some growth in a number of writers. They’ve started sharing pieces that are unfinished—not fully edited or revised. In my Enhance Your Storytelling course, people have begun submitting assignments that don’t quite meet expectations—and they know it.

This is a massive step. Sharing imperfect work with others is a powerful way to not only ignore the tirades of the inner critic, but also to see that people don’t stop viewing you as a writer because of it. In fact, they often respect you more for it. You’re opening yourself up to feedback.

Which, in turn, reinforces the truth: you are a writer. No single piece of writing—whether it’s a hit or a miss—dictates your value or your right to pursue your writing goals. Criticism is just feedback. It helps you figure out whether or not you’ve hit the mark you were aiming for—not whether you have the right to write.

And you know what’s great? These pieces still have brilliant lines, scenes, and ideas in them. So these writers are also learning that they can produce great writing without anxiously pouring over every sentence to make it “perfect.” That freedom invites more creativity because they’re not stuck in judgment while they write.

And their confidence has grown. They’re more willing to try new things, to take risks—and as a result, they’re growing at rates and in ways that someone who never shares imperfect work simply can’t.

So, the result of sharing imperfect work?

-Increased confidence.

-Increased growth.

-Increased access to creativity.

-Decreased inner critic.

Not bad, eh?

And all you have to do to get these same results is be courageous enough not to obsess over revision and editing during the creative process.

(Yes—when we’ve actually written and created something, then we absolutely want to be more specific and purposeful in our revisions. Just not during the first draft.)

Are these writers free of self-doubt? Nope. None of us are. But they’re learning that being a writer is about the process—it’s about the journey, not the destination. They know that as long as they’re writing and sharing their work with others, they’re on that road.

And they’re able to not only pursue their dreams—but enjoy the journey there.

After all, isn’t that what we all want?

Inspiration: “A tough lesson”

Set a timer for four minutes and write continuously on the prompt above. Then, take your own advice. 

Not sure if the idea(s) that come to you will actually help you move forward? Try and see. At the very least, you’ll learn something new. 

Have you tried out Trevor Assistant, my personally programmed writing coach yet?

You can get a free credit here. (first-time users only)

Next, go to www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/trevor-assistant and get customized feedback, based upon my personal perspective and understanding of writing. 

Invitation: Share the Piece Above

Set that 4-minute timer and do the quick-write from above. Then, send it to a friend—someone who loves to write or someone who enjoys reading your work.

Heck, share it on social media! And if you do, tag me @ihelpyouwritethings_tm!

Put your work out there. But don’t look for blanket praise about your talent or ability. Instead, listen for what people took from the piece. Is that what you were intending? Did something you felt was important make it through to the reader?

That’s valuable information. The kind you can use to grow—not only the piece itself, but your skill as a writer.

What a fantastic opportunity. And it’s available to you right now.

Don’t file it under “one day.”

Wishing you and your stories the very best,
Trevor Martens
Founder, I Help You Write Things