I Stopped Writing because I was Trying to be Perfect

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I stopped writing for a long time because I focused on perfection instead of filling an empty page with content. I filled it with my frustration.

I had already written a novel. So far, this is my first and only book. Every time I tried to write something else, I would get stuck. I stopped because of my pretension and ego. I made rules I should follow before I could confidently write.

I knew I was fooling myself. I knew this was slowing me down. But the obsession with perfection took over me. Everything had to be as perfect as Frank McCourt’s first novel. Everything had to be jewels, or it wouldn’t be good enough.

First Sentence

My first mistake was obsessing over the first sentence. One thing I was most proud of in my first novel, Living on Empty, was my book’s first sentence and paragraph. I wanted to repeat that because it was essential to grab my readers with the first sentence. I still believe this is important.

I hammered out page after page on subtle variations of the exact words. Writing subtle differences in the same paragraph. Overthinking it. Dreaming about it. I woke in cold sweat, wondering if it would ever be as perfect as I wanted. Was I wasting my time? Should I admit I am a hack? I was getting nowhere fast.