The pandemic is playing havoc with many writers,
destroying our creative process and pitching us into isolation and depression,
but the real culprit causing Writer’s Block (procrastination, or resistance to writing)
is perfectionism. Writers want to submit to public opinion the best story they
are capable of producing, but the vulnerable fear of judgment may kill the
desire to finish a work or submit it.
It is greatest desire of a writer to tell a story in such a way that a reader will remember that story for all time, sigh over the hero, identify with a character, and maybe even cherish a line or phrase from the story to remember for all time. Writers want good reviews that exalt their work. The worst fear of a writer is the judgment call that their story sucks, is full of plot holes, or just doesn’t muster. There are few writers, even famous ones, who haven’t experienced the rebuke of a reviewer or harsh words of disappointment or rejection by a reader. Even the best writers may discover the story wasn’t perfect after all.
“Perfectionism is the mother of procrastination.”
Michael Hyatt
Fiction stories are written from the very core of a
writer’s spirit. When a story isn’t well received, it hurts way deep inside the
writer. A hundred reviews could heap praise on a book, but one negative remark
from a reviewer or reader can negate every good testimony to the work. Most
have lived through these negative responses to their work and resolve to grow a
spiritual shield around themselves to protect their creative core—you know, “shake
it off”, or grow a “thick skin.”
Some writers, however, struggle with the fear of public rejection and begin to think, “I’m just not good enough.” Either this will lead to giving up or it will lead to a drive for perfectionism. Perfectionism taken to a heightened level can bring a writer to a standstill. The story may be written, but the writer feels compelled to write draft after draft every time an imperfection is discovered. They will not submit their work until it’s “perfect”, and in so doing, that story will not be submitted until the writer goes to their eternal rest —now that’s sad.
I’ve had Writer’s Block twice, but I never quit. I did,
however, take a workshop for writers about the problem and worked my way
through it. Writer’s Block is never about the lack of creativity (that’s a
whole other animal); it’s about fear of judgment.
So what should a writer do to stop chasing after the elusive perfection, get out of Writer’s Block hell, give up procrastination, and end the fear of judgment? Perfectionism is the most paralyzing form of self-abuse.
Well, I found some answers that might help.
And here
are some affirmations for your consideration:
Diverse
stories filled with heart
