Why pantsing doesn’t work for perfectionists
Writing by the seat of your pants can be a perfectionist habit.
This is a surprising one because we tend to think that perfectionists are always neat and organized. We think they’re the kind of people who have extensive outlines or massive story grids. But perfectionists often “pants” because we’re withholding effort to protect ourselves from failure.
This was me for the longest time! I have numerous drafts that I started with no plan, but those stories never went anywhere. I got overwhelmed when it was time to edit, so I'd just abandon them and try the same thing with a different idea.
I didn't know this cycle was perfectionism. Then I learned that perfectionism isn’t about actually being perfect; it’s about avoiding imperfection. And here’s how it manifests in our writing:
We engage in habits that keep us from taking risks and making mistakes.
We withhold effort because we see it as a sign of inadequacy; if we can’t do something easily, then it seems like proof that we are not meant to do it.
If we “fail” when we withhold effort, we can tell ourselves that the issue was lack of effort, not lack of ability. We can preserve our potential: “I would be a great writer if I really tried.”
Because perfectionists are driven to avoid imperfection, we will give up at the first sign of trouble. Conversely, pantsing only works for writers who have the ability to withstand the messiness of the writing process. Successful pantsers persist with their projects through several rounds of reshaping and rewriting their stories. They don’t have the expectation that they will get their novel “right” on the first try, and they don’t take their flawed, meandering first draft as a sign that the novel is doomed or their writing abilities aren’t up to par.
Perfectionists see a messy draft and believe it's proof that we can't write a novel, so we give up.
If we don't give our writing a full effort, or we quit when it gets hard, we also never try enough to learn or improve. In fact, we’re afraid to find out that we have room to work on our skills because it contradicts our belief in “natural ability”—that some people are born to write novels (and we hope we’re one of them). This is simply not true. Everyone has to work at their writing and storytelling to successfully complete a novel.
You have to break down your perfectionist mindset and habits with a new method. You have to confront your fear that putting in effort that doesn't result in immediate success is a sign of failure and inadequacy.
If this sounds like you, here are some steps you can take:
Put a plan in place for your story.
This removes your ability to blame your lack of a plan when you encounter challenges as you write. You do not have to have the perfect plan, but you need to create a roadmap to give yourself more structure. This will require effort and force you to make imperfect decisions, which is exactly what you need to do to break down your belief that effort equals inadequacy and that your ideas have to be perfect for you to start. (Never planned a novel? I can help! With my Book Basics package, I guide you through Author Accelerator's Blueprint for a Book, giving you feedback as you go. The result? You have a solid story plan that you know works, and you're ready to write!)
Establish a clear writing routine instead of just “writing when you feel like it.”
Not having a schedule allows you to create excuses and place the blame on external forces instead of confronting your fear of imperfection. Schedule your writing sessions ahead of time, work in a space where you can focus on your writing (I know if I’m tempted to write in front of the TV, I’m trying to protect myself from real effort), and follow your outline.
Resist the temptation to edit as you go and do not despair when the writing is tough or messy.
This provides you an opportunity to work on your mindset: tell yourself that bad writing and uncertainty are part of the process. Embrace the experimental nature of writing a novel and praise yourself for your willingness to learn. And remember that your writing ability is not a fixed entity or a talent you were born with or not. Writing is a skill that you develop through practice. The more you act in accordance with this belief, the more you will believe it.
Measure your progress by effort and process, not by the outcome.
This means that the quality of your first draft does not determine your success; instead, you are successful when you consistently show up to do the work and you stick with your novel even when self-doubt wants you to stop. Your goal becomes working through a novel to develop your skills as opposed to hoping you have the skills to complete the novel. Your writing will improve along the way, and a completed novel is the happy outcome!
Because I changed my approach, my current WIP is a completely different story than all those past attempts at pantsing.
Planning my story, working with a fellow book coach for accountability and a second opinion, establishing better writing habits, and working on my mindset have allowed me to make more progress and have a better first draft!
If you’re ready to overcome your perfectionism and finish the novel you’ve always longed to write, I’m here to tell you that you absolutely can! And I can help you make a plan for your novel that works for perfectionists with my Book Basics coaching. This process also involves addressing your other perfectionist mindset blocks and habits so you can develop a better approach to writing your novel and actually finish it!