Cure Perfection Paralysis with Freewriting

Freewriting can help you break through writer's block caused by perfectionist expectations.

Today, on Facebook, someone wrote a post about how when you sit staring at the screen not sure where to start that it is a sign you do not have clarity about your message. That can be the case sometimes, but I would say it is not always true. Many times my students have had a very clear idea of what they wanted to convey, but they were still paralyzed by the blank screen.

There are many reasons for this. Sometimes, you are just tired and maybe need a break. Sometimes, it is a complex subject, and you need to find the right approach. Then sometimes, it’s the mistaken belief that you shouldn’t write anything unless it is perfect.

Why shouldn’t we feel that way? Many of us experienced the “pressure essay” in high school. We had to write an essay in a 50-minute hour that was well-organized, clear, readable, free of spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors, with perfect penmanship.

I remember one teacher had a sign on the wall reading, “How come there is never enough time to do it right, but always enough time to do it over?” What a terrible thought for a professional writer. All writing is rewriting in a way. We start with something imperfect, messy, and sometimes, barely readable. Through revision and editing, we turn it into something better.

Yet, those pressure essays and admonitions to do it right the first time stick with us, and it turns into Perfection Paralysis.

What is Perfection Paralysis?

Perfection Paralysis happens when one the fear of writing poorly keeps us from writing anything at all. We sit at the keyboard, staring at that terrifying blank screen, editing ourselves before we even hit a single keystroke.

So, we think about writing, “Jane stared out the window at the rain filling up the gutters along the street. A thunderclap…” But, No! Someone said you shouldn’t start with the weather. (Even though many accomplished writers do).

Then we think, “Jane was sad, very sad…” No, can’t do that. That’s telling and not showing.

A dozen openings and we reject each one because it isn’t “good enough,” and the screen remains blank.

Because the wording isn’t perfect, we don’t write anything. That’s Perfection Paralysis.

The Cure

One cure for Perfection Paralysis is freewriting. This is an exercise in which you forget about writing perfectly or even cogently. You simply write down whatever comes to mind, whether it is good or bad, or even if it has nothing to do with the writing project.

Here’s an exercise that can help you break through your constant self-editing and help you feel free to write.

Open up a file and just start writing. Write for 20 minutes. Write anything that comes to mind. It doesn't even have to be about the subject. Don’t worry about complete sentences or the order. Just write down whatever comes to mind. Keep writing through the entire 20 minutes. Then stop.

Rest for 20 minutes. Don’t even think much about the project. Do something entirely different. Watch TV. Listen to music. Play a game. Do chores. Exercise. Do anything that keeps your mind off the project.

Then repeat for another 20-minute session. Again, just write whatever comes to mind. You will likely notice that things will be a bit more organized. You may get some new ideas. You might not, but the old ideas might begin to gel a bit.

Then, rest again for 20 minutes.

Repeat this cycle one more time. Don’t look at either of the other two versions. Just write. By this time, there will be more coherence.

Rest again.

Now, look over the previous three efforts. Don’t necessarily try to create any formal outline from them, just review what you did. Then sit down and begin writing in earnest. Now, you can think about structure and wording. It will be easier to remember that this is just the first draft, and no one will see it until you have polished it later.

So, the next time you find yourself staring at a blank screen, editing what you are about to write before you write it, try some freewriting to break through your Perfection Paralysis.