thought for the week

~ jama

 

             

“As you work further, you are faced more and more with the fact that it’s not going to be everything. You try to make this as good as it can be, but it’s not going to encompass the whole world. That’s where the disillusionment sets in.” 
                                                                          ~ Mona Simpson           

Perfectionism paralyzes writers. Sooner or later, you come to terms with the fact that your work will not be all that you hoped and imagined. 

This is as it should be. NO writing should commence without broad dreams and high ambitions.

Let the scaling down come as you work, not before.

Your work, patiently pursued, will ground itself of its own accord. It will gradually show you its limitations and compromises. Because we are humans, no perfectly achieved project is possible or even desirable.

Disillusion is a natural stage that follows the holding of an illusion. How could you start a large project without an 
illusion — an image of what it might be? How could you complete it without a gradual coming down to earth?

Don’t make your compromises and adjustments in advance. Let them come as you work.

        ~ from Walking on Alligators: A Book of Meditations for Writers
         by Susan Shaughnessy  (Harper, 1993) 

16 thoughts on “thought for the week”

  11. Oh I love this book. Thank you for reminding me that it is time to reread it.
    We beat ourselves up too much trying to be perfect in our words. I think it best if I can try to remember to be perfect with my intent.

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  16. I think writers suffer the most from this misconception. Sure, most everyone wants to do a good job, no matter what their profession — but not to the extent that it may pychologically impede progress.

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