I think perfection is a universal desire. No one wants to half-ass their life or projects, so we strive for perfection, or as close to it as possible. But if you have ever found yourself struggling, trying to write that perfect sentence, or draw that perfect line, you know that perfection is impossible. Firstly, because the idea of perfection is objective, and secondly because your own standards will always be too high to reach.
“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”
Madeleine L’Engle
I have been thinking about writing a novel since I was a kid, but it’s something I could never seem to complete. I would start writing and find myself at a point where I discouraged myself for the lack of perfection in my work, or I simply got bored of the project, likely to do with the first. But I’ll be releasing my first novel this summer and I want to share the lessons I learned to get me through two drafts.
Let Go of Perfection
I cannot say this enough. I started writing this book late last year, and by early February, I had written and rewritten the first ten or so chapters at least three times, probable more. Everyone I spoke with told me that it wouldn’t be perfect and it was only a first draft so of course it probably wouldn’t be very good. I finally listened and the result was a full first draft in a few weeks, way more than I had accomplished in the previous few months! The lesson here is that you’ll never reach perfection and the draft will probably suck, and that’s okay!
TIP: Make a commitment to yourself that you won’t go back and read your previous chapters at all until your first draft is complete. The exception to this would be going back to check a detail for use in the chapter you’re currently working on.
Let Go of Control
It seems like an odd thing to say to someone writing a novel, but controlling the plot into what I thought it should be left me feeling overwhelmed. It’s funny – writers have often said that the characters write themselves, and it’s absolutely true! If you let go and allow them to exist beyond your text editor, they will make themselves known and help you write them well. The plot ties into this, too. Let the plot be what it’s going to be, rather than forcing your ideas.
TIP: If you’re struggling with your plot, remove all of the bullshit and write down what the book is about, in one sentence. What is the overarching theme? For me, I took the plot of Reflections of Us down to a single plot point: two boys discover their sexuality and love for each other. Is it simple? Yes. But putting that on paper got me out of my head and back to writing.
Just Write and Often
It seems silly to tell writers to go write, but it made a difference for me. I wrote and wrote and wrote, for hours a day, and in the end of had a shitty first draft. After some adjustments, I was ready to send it off to my brother, who did all my editing for Reflections of Us. As of right now, I have finished writing my second draft (still waiting on those edit, bro) and honestly, it became something so beautiful that I can hardly believe I wrote it.
TIP: Go forth and write, friends. Do what you want to do and be who you want to be.
“Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything really good.”
William Faulkner