Perfectionism; does it even exist, and even if it did, would it be something that would hinder you or propel you into success? Being a perfectionist is something that most people regard as a flaw in their personality, and it is right for them to feel this way. If you are always going to set the bar of success so impossibly high, then how are you ever going to be satisfied with anything you do? Perfectionism should be kept at arm's length, locked in a box and the key buried.  

Aiming for perfectionism could be the killer to your writing creativity. Striving to create that perfect, flawless piece of writing could be the excuse that will prevent you from even putting pen to paper. If you want every word to be amazing, and every sentence to be life changing to the reader, and you do not produce perfection in the first draft, there is a big possibility that you will give up before you have even started. It is a slippery slope and a mindset that could seriously damage your creativity.  

Writers need to think more like computer game developers. Game developers never chase perfection because they are totally aware of the fact that it doesn't exist. They have a product to produce and get into the market in a specified amount of time So they create the best product they can and get it out into the world. Although you cannot make any major changes to your manuscript once you hit the publish button, you can write an infinite amount of words in your first draft and then go back and make as many alterations as you want. The more you write, the better you will become. You will gradually discover your own unique writing style and the genre you love to write the most. I do not mean produce an endless amount of substandard work, but get into the habit of writing something every day and take time to work on your art without feeling demoralised when not every word is perfect. That is why the word 're-writes' exist. 

Do you know that aiming for perfection doesn't mean you become perfect? Have you ever met someone that thinks everything they do or say is perfect and it is above criticism? They may think they can walk on water but the rest of us may not agree. If you believe your writing is perfection, then you are in for an almighty shock when you finally send it off to a publisher or agent. Even if your work is published, it is not going to be enjoyed by everyone. You cannot please everyone all the time. Remember to take note of any feedback; do not take it as a criticism, but something to learn from, move forward and use the critique, if it is constructive, to improve. Writing is a continuous journey; you are never going to be completely satisfied, and sometimes you just have to share your writing with the world and see what happens. It is scary, of course, but you may be surprised that trying to be a perfectionist was a waste of time because your readers love what you have created.