Comments on: Why Freelance Writers Must Avoid Perfectionism

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 15:47:21 +0000

Striving for perfection used to slow me down big time!

In the last year i make it my aim to get everything out there knowing full well that it won’t be perfect.

I do spend a lot of my time editing though! Sometimes longer than the actual writing

By: John Soares

John Soares — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 23:41:09 +0000

In reply to Anne Wayman. Anne, thank you for sharing a good example from a current client. Sounds like an interesting gig!

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 23:11:39 +0000

John, I enjoyed reading this again, as updated. I’ve recently been working with a Harvard lawyer and his writing. This guy has a nine page CV and I was intimidated to start. Now it’s just plain fun. We’re often on Google Docs together working on a piece.

One of the things I’ve picked up from working this way with him is his attention to detail… sometimes way too much, and sometimes exactly right. It’s been helpful in my own writing. Also, if he starts to get carried away with his perfectionism he usually will listen to me suggest he needn’t do that… which is a kick.

There really are lots of ways to get this thing called writing done, aren’t there.

By: Successful Freelance Writers Write Well

Successful Freelance Writers Write Well — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 13:25:13 +0000

[…] don’t have to be a perfectionist, but you do need to write clearly and with very few punctuation, grammar, and spelling errors. You […]

By: Top 10 Ways to Be a More Productive Freelance Writer

Top 10 Ways to Be a More Productive Freelance Writer — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 00:14:09 +0000

[…] “Why Freelance Writers Must Avoid Perfectionism” explains how perfectionism will greatly decrease your productivity. 34 comments and 69 tweets. […]

By: The Four Key Benefits of Writing Well — Productive Writers

The Four Key Benefits of Writing Well — Productive Writers — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 07:07:59 +0000

[…] don’t have to be a perfectionist, but you do need to write clearly and with very few punctuation, grammar, and spelling errors. You […]

By: Gene Burnett

Gene Burnett — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:57:03 +0000

Pamela, I would flip that around and say perfection separates the goat from the sheep. Sheep are dumb, goats are brilliant. ;~)

By: Pamela King Cable

Pamela King Cable — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:30:12 +0000

As a fiction writer, perfection is the name of the game as far as literary agents are concerned. They require nothing less. A first time novelist can’t get published without it, no matter how fantastic the story. The competition is so great, it’s perfection that separates the sheep from the goats. Many writers are stressing over perfection to the point of giving up. After years of rejection, they either give up or self-publish. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed some agents do not practice what they preach. Their emails, blogs, newsletters, rejection letters, web sites, and social media pages are atrocious. Too bad, so sad for the writer, however. Wanting to get noticed by a literary agent without a perfect first manuscript is like a 300 pound woman trying to win a beauty contest. I love your blog, and more than anything I wish we could all practice a little less perfectionism. I just don’t see the literary agents buying into it. Unfortunately.

By: Perfection? Forgetaboutit — About Freelance Writing

Perfection? Forgetaboutit — About Freelance Writing — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:10:38 +0000

[…] Soares has a great article on the dangers of perfectionism for freelance […]

By: Why Writers Must Avoid Perfectionism « calmapparatus

Why Writers Must Avoid Perfectionism « calmapparatus — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:35:46 +0000

[…] John Soares — Productive Writers. […]