7 Comments

Yes, I absolutely share this tendency, this fear of sharing the imperfect, even though my "intellect" knows it's all imperfect. I tell myself we aren't designed for perfection, we're designed for dreaming and reaching. As a painter I've found a way to trick myself into sharing more by calling the ones that feel shaky sketches, because sketches, like drafts, aren't expected to be perfect.

Expand full comment

"Don't let perfect be the enemy of good."

As a writer, I've found that it helps to think of all of my work as a body of work. There are many things within this body of work that are beyond imperfect but if I imagine that I am able to look back at the end of life at the whole archive it seems like it will all make sense. Do the best I can with what I have and know now and let the rest unfold.

Expand full comment

I remember reading this post the first time you shared it, and thinking "Yes!" I'm glad you've posted it again. It's a timely reminder for me, and a real encouragement. Thank you.

Expand full comment

The fear of not being good enough has haunted me all my life, but with each connection here, words of encouragement from other writers, mainly women, I'm getting bolder and braver. The choice of Cassandra Speaks for the first book club is perfect and fits so well with this theme.

Expand full comment

I've been writing "stuff" for decades and every time I drag some old essay, poem, or story out of my dusty cellar bin, it needs a tweak or two. Or a whole rethink and rewrite. Lots of things I've thrown back in the bin to cook a little longer or in that other actual bin where it is destroyed or sent into cyberspace.

I once attended a poetry reading and noticed the guest poet sitting off to the side. He was writing in one of his books, changing even then after publication, a word here and there. It's never perfect, and if it is, it means we haven't grown any since the last time we read it. I've even gotten in the habit of editing my comments because I ALWAYS make mistakes. HA! My dad used to tell me, "If you don't make mistakes, you're not doing anything."

Expand full comment

This post felt so relatable. I write our letters on our newsletter in stolen moments on Sunday mornings too and it's comforting to know that other writers are writing in stolen moments too. Thanks for sharing.

Expand full comment

A beautiful sentiment... It reached right to my core. I want to share part of myself with the world, but I feel totally inadequate to meet the "perfection" necessary for anyone else to care what I have to share.

Expand full comment