When planning to write your first book, you may think it has to be perfect. While striving for high quality is a great goal to have in mind, trying to write a perfect book is simply impossible. If you let fears of being imperfect keep you from writing, you may never finish your manuscript. Even the world’s best-selling authors can find things they dislike about their work and can see areas where they could have improved, but this doesn’t take away from the success of the book or the person who wrote it. Let go of the idea of perfectionism and simply write.
Perfect isn’t possible
A perfectly written book doesn’t exist, and it’s unlikely that any author’s work will ever be objectively thought of as perfect. Differing opinions among readers and those who work in the literary world mean that someone is always going to find fault with any book. While you can’t write a perfect book, you can create something that’s cohesive, well-written, and appealing to your target readers. Focus on that instead of trying to achieve the unachievable.
Strive for achievable goals
What’s your purpose when writing your first book? Do you want to entertain, inform, or just share with your readers? Work toward achieving that goal instead of trying to be perfect. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be accurate and careful when writing. You should still take care to write without mistakes, to create content that your readers will find engaging, and to do your very best. Also, be sure to follow through with the editing process so common mistakes can be fixed before your work goes out to readers.
The best writers in the world know that they can always improve their work. When writing your first book, do your absolute best, but know that perfection is not a possible goal. Instead of trying to be perfect, focus on writing well and creating a book that your target readers will enjoy.
