Being A Writer Means Not Being a Perfectionist

Do you see these lovely flowers? We found several caterpillars in them last fall and tried to raise them. We failed in our attempt, but... we learned something. :)

This post will be short and sweet, since I'm still recovering from a sprained ankle that's slowed me down lately. But I just wanted to share the quote that's been on my fridge this year. I discovered it in late 2016 and thought it was a perfect New Year's resolution quote. Okay, I know it's March, but I don't know about you, but I still need this reminder.

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop,  don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

--Neil Gaiman

Coincidentally, I've never read a Neil Gaiman book (a little too scary for my tastes), but I love this quote and his speech about his wonderful inspiring commencement speech at the University of Arts. You can find it here. Lately, I've been doing a lot of "Whatever I'm scared of doing" both in my writing and my life. I also needed this reminder this week when I felt I'd made yet another writing mistake. What is it about querying that seems to magnify my mistakes?

Keep writing, keep reading, keep learning, dear friends!

Hope you are all having a wonderful spring! Are you doing things (or writing) things that scare you? Have you made a mistake that was a blessing (or a learning experience) in disguise?