Authors Only Succeed When They're Not Seeking Perfection

 

I lusted for a girl in high school, back in the early 1980s. I made the mistake of never asking her out. I was intimidated by her beauty, especially her green, cat-like eyes, her light-up-a-room smile, and her sculpted body. She was a quiet one, and not the popular, cheerleader-type. But her attractive look showered any room that she entered.

I wasn’t shy about talking to her and I made her laugh quite often.  I thought the perfect circumstance had to exist to ask her on a date, but that moment never materialized. I realize now that I was supposed to create that moment, some moment where I simply ask her to dinner or a movie. I missed out.

But I was not the only one waiting for perfection. She apparently was picky about who she dated or committed to. She never got married. She is now 54.

Striving for perfection, after procrastination, is the most destructive force in our lives, especially when it comes to an author pursuing a successful writing career. So if you want to launch that book and break through the clutter, stop seeking to be perfect.

Sometimes, good enough is indeed good enough. Other times we fail but need to move forward. Always push and proceed. Inertia, doubt, delay, or inability to make a decision and commit to a path will sabotage you. It is better to settle for something decent than to keep up a Hamlet-like drama in everything that you do.

Look at the rest of your life. Have you ever held out for the perfect person, the ideal job, or the best house? Sure you did. You may have still made mistakes or failed to achieve fulfillment from your choices. Why? Because life isn’t perfect.

Does this mean we should not exercise some discriminatory judgment in what we do? No, of course we need to be selective, have standards, check things out, and trust our gut, but we can’t endlessly go on dismissing opportunities that are right in front of us.

So when it comes to writing your book:  

·         Dedicate time daily to write it. Set a deadline to finish it.

·         Have someone edit it but don’t keep going back to re-write it over and over.

·         Come up with a good title or subtitle, share it with others, allow for a window of time to change it, then move on.

·         Design a great cover. Tweak it in a set period of time and then proclaim it is done.

 When it comes to getting it published: 

·         When it comes to finding a literary agent, don’t hold out for the biggest one. If you get someone interested, work with them.

·         When your agent presents a deal, shop a little longer, and then take whatever is the best offer.

·         If you can’t get an agent or a publisher, self-publish or hybrid publish, but don’t just park the manuscript on the shelf.

When it comes to marketing it:

* You won’t have the time, money, or skills to do everything, but don’t let that stop you from doing what you can.

* Just because you can’t do everything the way it ideally should be done, doesn’t mean you don’t do it. Make the best of a situation.

The old adage is true: “One in the hand is worth two in the bush.” Take the opportunity in front of you, for your book, and run with it. Don’t keep demanding or expecting perfection, because it may never arrive.

You can be your biggest asset — or barrier — to your success, in writing and in life. You don’t need to be perfect. Strive for imperfection and you may surprise yourself at the results.

Contact Brian For Marketing Help!!

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand.

Learn, Grow, Succeed!!

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2021. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America. For more information, please consult: linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.