So, they say that the first step to overcoming your addictions is to admit your problem and seek help. So here I go…
“My name is Kyle Chowning, and I have a problem with compofectionism.”
When I was in school, I had teachers who consistently told me that my writing was awkward and not creative enough. Just like anything else, if you listen to the message long enough, you believe what you are told. Unfortunately, a decade or two later, I still believe them.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve been able to look back and understand that my teachers weren’t necessarily wrong, they simply didn’t help me resolve my writing deficiencies. The good news is, I want to write. The problem is, when I put my fingers to the keyboard, I experience what I call compofectionism (composition + perfectionism = compofectionism). I define it as “the refusal to accept any writing short of perfection.” That drive for perfection and my fear of failing consistently terminates my enthusiasm and I move on to something different. Bleh.
Let me be clear that this post is not a plea for commendations.
Here’s what I want to know:
- What was the best writing advice you were ever given?
- What is the best way you get over your compofectionism?
Write on!
