You type away at your keyboard in a writing flurry, feeling like you might have struck gold. Only it doesn’t look so great the next day . . . in fact, you start questioning if you should have even started writing in the first place. The gauntlet of creativity includes a walk through self-doubt and perfectionism, being okay with producing something bad before we become a polished master. The word creative has roots in the Medieval Latin creātīvus, meaning “to beget” or “give birth to.” Honestly, writing does sometimes feel as exhausting as giving birth! Dragging new ideas into existence and making them accessible to the world is tough work. Creativity is both beautiful and challenging—it takes conscious effort to overcome some of the most common stumbling blocks of creativity.
Perfectionism
Brené Brown describes perfectionism as “a twenty-ton shield we lug around thinking it will protect us when, in fact, it’s the thing that’s really preventing us from taking flight.”1 The pursuit of perfection will always smother potential. The truth about the creative process is that it was made to be messy. To skip this crucial step in writing is to keep yourself from becoming a better writer. It’s in the messy, just-getting-started moments when some of the most brilliant ideas happen. Not when you are doing everything perfectly, not when you are dotting your i’s and crossing your t’s and assuming that ideas should flow out ready for publication. Editing will come later. In the beginning, embrace the joy of stomping in some rhetorical mud puddles! Make messy plot lines and undeveloped characters. Experiment with different forms and be okay with it not being very beautiful or even making sense. Getting out ideas is half the battle of birthing a beautiful piece of literature into the world. Stop getting in your own way and go get messy.
Practical Tips
1. Keep Early Drafts
I can feel you cringing reading this one, but keeping early drafts of your work is important in the creative process. Being able to look over old drafts of your work, even if they feel terrible, can help you to recognize patterns in your thinking and writing that could lead to some major breakthroughs as your writing progresses. In my own experience, holding onto brainstorming notes and early drafts of academic essays have helped me to vastly improve my writing. Referring back to previous drafts gives me ideas and helps me enter a better writing flow, getting me past the messy stage and into my finished stages of writing.
2. Take Breaks, Don’t Quit
When you feel stuck or perfectionism is hitting too hard, take a break. Sometimes the best creative breakthroughs come when you aren’t trying to be creative at all. Taking a step back from your work allows you to come back with fresh perspectives instead of passing critical and frustrated judgment on its quality and content.
3. Get Feedback Early
Getting feedback on your writing from the right people can play a crucial role in getting your ideas off the ground. Feedback from overly critical or uninformed sources aren’t helpful and will lead to more frustration and make quitting more appealing. Choose individuals who understand the writing process and can help you refine your work. Having feedback from others early in the writing process will break bad habits and keep your creativity flowing.
Final Thoughts
Being creative is vulnerable and there is no way around having to face your own doubts with courage. You will have to learn how to let go of wanting certainties. The most important thing to keep in mind is to have fun! If the creative process doesn’t bring you joy, then you are doing something wrong. Let go of certainty and embrace the creative process. Make beautiful mistakes and watch your writing grow from there. The more you embrace the mess of creativity, the higher your chances are for striking gold!
By Tavia Crabb
Works Referenced:
1. Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection (Hazelden, 2010).
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