Seeking and attaining Perfection is a topic widely discussed by “business coaches” and “gurus”
You know the adage, “perfect practice prevents poor performance“
But what is Perfect and what is Perfection?
In the past few years, I have enjoyed meeting and working with “Creatives”. Authors, musicians, artists, and poets. Their ability to create images and stories through various mediums fascinates me since I was not endowed with such natural talent. ~~smile
Working with them in developing the Business Side of their endeavors has led to some interesting conclusions.
Some feel the need to fine-tune over and over again, seeking perfection in the final product and others boldly step forward, “publish” and then listen to their market.
Those who may rush into it then are not afraid to re-edit, and change, many times explaining to their “fans” why and how.
I have noticed several recent authors posting their novel chapters as written on their Author website and growing an engaged tribe of readers who offer their suggestions and edits in the comment sections. The authors apply the suggestions and when Novel is finished and published sales seem to be BRISK.
Here is an example of Novel In progress by James Strauss
READ YAKUZA
The final publication will probably be modified
The point of this seemingly meandering discourse is:
Do some creatives Wait Too Long seeking Perfection?
I wonder what would happen if they gathered a group of friendly observers and shared the development?
For years I noticed my creative wife did this often. Shirley painted something and presented it to the public, but many times she would go back and make “changes” and reintroduce it.
Shedid that to this piece. The rock pictured on the left was painted and was “published”, garnering good reviews. Then she decided something was missing and made some changes as you can see on the image right, and republished, again with good reviews. I asked her why she showed it the first time, and her answer was simple, “I liked it, but I like it more now.” I liked them both.
Shirley’s Praying Hand Rocks
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Which do you like best?
Should we wait until everything is Perfect?
What is wrong with this attempt at writing ~~smile?
Back around 10 years ago, I had a Tip of the Week Series (one of the longest autoresponder series in the world, I’m pretty sure). I would end each tip with the line, “It doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be done.” I am a big believer in putting it out there. You can worry something into oblivion, tweaking endlessly. For an author, the beauty of POD publishing is that you can go back in and easily make changes AFTER you have published. But you’re going to starve to death if you never put your work out there. Thanks for putting this post “out there” Chuck!
Thank you, Barbara,
Have you also observed that sometimes when you “plunge in” the water really is FINE.
I would echo Barbara Grassey’s comment. I’m one who has to force himself into an “It’s good enough” attitude, though never flippantly. We will have edited a minimum of three times, have at least most of it reviewed by two critique groups, but then it goes live. Even then, I’m constantly finding something that could “improve” the work, but I resist the urge to make changes unless an error has been pointed out to me. (I juxtaposed two characters in my Biblical Historical novelette. Nobody caught it for two years.)
BTW — I love Shirley’s work, and I agree with you on her “Praying Hands.” It was good the first time. It is improved the second, but to be honest, I had to look three times before I figured out what the change was.
Thank you, Jerry!
Your new children’s book, Mouse In The House
is “perfection” regardless.
And regarding Shirley’s Rock, “it is always in the eyes of the beholder”
I agree with Barbara. If you edit, rewrite over and over, it could just become an endless story. Nothing is perfect and my books are not but the truth in the memories that have been shared are perfect.
We are fortunate in a world of electronics to be able to take a pdf credit and republish in a matter of minutes.
We are blessed with tools that allow changes to made more easily.
Have you received suggestions from your readers regarding future changes, Nancy?
To tell you the truth, I have not, but mine is a Memoir. I guess most read the stories and just enjoy, but I see the errors in punctuation and sentence structure. As a matter of fact recently, I found an error of a misspelled word on the back cover of Book III. Smile is spelled simile, but but it is in Frank’s writing and he always said smile as si-mile, so it stays.
Love it!
Life is meany to deliver some mistakes, don’t you agree?
Always there are mistakes. That we learn and bend in how we react to our mistakes is the most important thing. We have to learn perfection is goal we seek, but can not holds us back from being productive.
I guess we all seek perfection! Is it really possible? A good example is editing a book. No matter how hard I try, I know I haven’t corrected “all” the errors. Yes, I know there is always going to be that one more I error that I missed!
I know that I am “just trying to make it right”. Yes, I know I am going to miss one error, but I am only human and I guess that’s why being perfect is so difficult!
Thanks for your input, Joanne.
Your brand new book is well received and I have not seen any glaring errors.
Congratulations on finally publishing The High Cost Of Service
Wonderful story and the Reference Appendix is very Valuable
Apologies Chuck, I am terrible at Facebook so have only seen your message 6 weeks after you sent it.
I think we tend to strive for perfection instead of excellence. As a result, many projects never get completed.
Living in Africa most of my life in an environment when many of the conveniences we in North America take for granted were not available. Settling for less than perfect was the norm. Through improvisation, adjustment and making a plan with what we had. Things got done, crops got grown, books and articles got written, results were obtained even if the process and the final product was less than perfect
I have always admired your resolve, Peter, and so much appreciated the opportunity to read your book, 5 Steps To Thriving On Adversity