Last updated February 4, 2026
Being a writer often feels like you’re looking for an instructions manual that never came with the package. We see completed works of fiction everywhere and these are the ones we compare our work to. This kind of comparison can set up unrealistic expectations such that we may think that if we sit down and write, what will come out will be just like those completed works we enjoy. This is not uncommon to experience as a writer, but these kinds of unrealistic expectations can lead to perfectionism. Here are six common misconceptions that fuel your perfectionism as a writer.
1. You need to know what to write about before you start
Writer’s who struggle with perfectionism often believe that they should have their story figured out before they get started. But this isn’t always the case. In Masterclass‘s promotional video, author Dan Brown suggests that “If you’re not sure what to write, write the wrong thing a few times and let that be the process by which you find the right thing.” Sometimes writing itself can lead to the discovery of your story. This is because sometimes ideas are not always readily available in our conscious mind and by processing our thoughts through writing, we can bring forward related ideas living in the subconscious.
Perfectionism will make you believe that your stories should be written exactly as how you visualize them. This can be very frustrating because more often than not, language and skill can fall short to our visualizations. In Youtuber ShaelinWrites‘s video on author anxiety, Shaelin talks about the gap between our imagination and written language. Our thoughts are typically abstract and have no direct communication to the material world. We communicate our thoughts through imperfect tools like language. Therefore, it’s very unlikely to generate exactly what you imagine—and that’s okay! What you create will have a life of it’s own and that has merit, too. Besides, the reader will only see the story on the page, not the one in your head.
Part of dealing with perfectionism as a writer is the idea that to get started you need to be inspired. But, Youtuber Racheal Stephen’s discussion on how to write when you don’t feel like it, brings up a different perspective on the relationship between the writer and their muse. According to Stephen, the muse (creative flow state) rarely shows up to a writing session before we do. Even though it feels counterproductive to start writing when you’re not inspired, it is actually possible to encourage your muse to show up once you’ve started writing. But that doesn’t mean you can’t encourage your muse to come out before a writing session. Drawing inspiration, such as reading a book that sparks imagination, watching a movie or TV show related to your story’s genre or themes, or listening to music can be a great way to get the creative juices flowing.
Learning how to craft a story is necessary for developing our writing skills. Many of us will turn to writing advice, books, courses etc. to learn how to tell a story. However, we can not rely solely on writing craft advice to improve our skills. Sometimes, what we need is to sit down and write. Doing it this way requires that we lean on our writer’s intuition. It is our inner knowing of how a story wants to be told. It’s like a nudge that makes you go one way when your logical mind may expect you to go another. Editing is when you take what you’ve dug up while writing and make sense of it.
Sometimes we think we need to write what makes logical sense, like writing plot in sequential order, even when you have to force yourself through a boring scene. This is a quick way to burn out and lose interest in your story. In 2019 I took a spring writing course for Science Fiction and Fantasy and the writing advice that stuck with me was to “follow the fun”. This meant that a good place to start writing is to start with what interests you the most—even if you don’t have the story figured out yet. Do you find a particular character, setting or dialogue interesting? Start there. Write a scene that’s active and descriptive. Begin to notice what other details and elements of the story emerge on their own.
A common recommendation for writers is to think about who they’re readers are. And yes, this is important…in the later stages of your manuscript like editing and beta-reading (if you plan to publish it one day). However, in the early stages of writing, you don’t need to write with an audience in mind. Thinking about an audience so early in writing can hinder your creativity due to the fear of scrutiny from an imaginary audience. Instead, write for yourself. Write whatever strikes your fancy. Combine all of those strange ideas together. Do it because it brings you joy.
It’s important to remember that writing is fluid. Some days we churn out words that flow like a steady stream, while other days it’s like pulling teeth. Normalizing the hardships of creating while keeping realistic expectations can help you combat perfectionism as a writer.
Have you dealt with perfectionism as a writer? What misconceptions have you had as a writer and how did you change them? Please share in the comments below!
Hi! Shantal here. I’m a writer and a storyteller. I created Shantal Writes to share my experiences with writing fiction. I also provide new writers with tips, tools, and writing advice. I hope you find something helpful while you’re here!
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