Consistency Over Perfectionism: The Key to Results for Writers

This article is not what I originally wanted to write today. I was going to write about how I got my first client when I started a marketing agency in 2017

It’s a helpful story with a lot of value, and I’m going to write it.

But not today.?

The reason?

My time management has been horrible today. I was slammed with projects at work and had errands to run after. Basically, I wasn’t going to give that topic the effort and energy it needed so I put it on the shelf (for now).?

Hitting publish makes all the difference

But here’s the problem, I’m challenging myself to write AND publish daily.

The publishing part is key, because it makes all the difference. It holds you accountable for not just writing but putting it out.?

So I still had to write something to achieve my daily goal.?

This article is rushed, I’m not outlining it. I’m literally writing it as it comes to me.?

This won’t be my best piece of writing.?

But that’s ok.?

That’s not the purpose of this article, the purpose is to practice discipline and improve my writing.

My goal right now is not to write my best. My goal right now is just to write every day. To have measurable output, to finish something every day and hit publish and hold myself accountable to that daily habit.

Writers are perfectionists, we want to only put out work that’s great or at the very least good.?

This is a worthy aspiration.?

However, I also think embracing good enough also has virtue.?

The reason??

Because it allows you to build consistency and overcome self-sabotaging patterns of perfectionism.?

Consistency is the cute for self-sabotage

It’s really easy to make start making excuses for yourself if you’re only willing to put out exceptional writing.?

Sure, a deeply researched, long-form piece that’s been revised multiple times is great. But it’s not a habit you can sustain every day. Even if that’s all you did every day, you’d burn out.

Perfectionism gets in the way of momentum.

This is why something is better than nothing. It’s better to half-ass something every day and improve little by little than try to make giant leaps of progress all at once.?

That’s not like you shouldn’t put in the effort to produce to write high-quality work. But for writers starting out like myself, discipline and consistency matter way more.?

The more of a habit you build up, the easier it gets to do quality work consistently because even that half-assed work helps you build momentum over time. It’s the principle of compounding interest, small improvements day by day.?

Stack small daily?wins

There’s one other added benefit, I get to experience a small victory every day.?

My goal right now is not to write some high-performing piece of content that’s going to compete with the likes of Tim Denning

My goal is to write and publish one article/piece of content daily. Just by writing this and posting, I win.

I doubt many people will read this when I post it. But it’s still a success.

Maybe not in the grand scheme of things, but it’s a win for today.?

Like I said, my time management was horrible today. So I had two option…

Skip my daily post, and break 18 days of consistency. Or get something knocked out that at least offers a little value and have the satisfaction of another day added to my writing streak.

That satisfaction of consistency hones your skills and also helps you build up discipline.?

Actually making time to write is the running joke for writers

A lot of this has to do with perfectionism and placing stressful, unrealistic expectations on yourself.?

Bringing it all?together

We all want to be great writers. It requires consistency and requires discipline. The best way to create that consistency and discipline is to write daily.?

That’s why getting something done, even if it’s not your best, is so effective. You’re bypassing all those mental obstacles and focusing on the single action that matters the most, sitting down and writing.