Letting Go of Perfectionism to Finish Your Book

The Secret to Finishing Your Book Faster

Have you ever sat down to write your book, stalled, got distracted by something else, and couldn’t muster up the momentum to begin again?

Or, as you write, do you find yourself critiquing every sentence as you go, lacking creative flow, without much forward momentum?

You’re not alone.

If you’re ready to finish your book in a matter of months rather than years, I’ve got a simple hack for you:

Write your book without editing.

Wait, what?

What I mean is to let go of perfectionism and get the words onto the page.

That might be terrifying advice for all of you (recovering) perfectionists out there. I get you. I am you.

I was stuck writing my book for years because of my untamed Inner Editor before I figured this out. This simple shift is liberating, and it leads to massive productivity in finishing your book. As an award-winning author of two books now, I’m living proof, as are the dozens of published authors I've coached here at Modern Wisdom Press.

Introducing the Inner Editor and the Inner Author

We all have two distinct parts of our brain: our left side of the brain, which is the source of our analytical, linear, organized thinking (aka our Inner Editor), and our right side of the brain (our Inner Author), from which our intuitive, insightful, creative ideas flow.

Each is necessary to write a great book, yet for most aspiring authors who are stuck, these two sides of the brain are competing.

Our Inner Editor is vital in helping us organize and structure the content of the chapters to ensure our book is logical and clear and that our readers stay engaged from page to page. This job is the foundation of a strong outline for your book, or Throughline, as we call it.

The Inner Editor loves to polish and perfect, too, which will come in handy after your first draft is complete. To finish your book, you must learn to tame the desire to edit as you write so your Inner Author can shine.

The Inner Editor can also disguise the voice of our Inner Critic, which can be why we procrastinate, perfect, or polish to no end if we haven’t addressed our subconscious fears and doubts about becoming a published author.

When you write without editing, you allow your creativity to flourish without judgment. Set firm boundaries by telling your Inner Editor to back off (until the first draft is complete) so that your Inner Author is free to write with flow. Remember, your goal is just a first “rough” draft.

Nurturing Your Inner Author

Once you’ve tamed your Inner Editor, create a writing container that feels safe, nurturing, and inspiring. Think of your Inner Author as the free spirit within, that inner child who wants to come out and play on the page.

Turn on your favorite playlist, light a candle, wear something cozy, pour something delicious, and give your Inner Author permission for full creative expression.

You can awaken your Inner Author by quieting the mind in meditation or guided visualization, artistic expression such as drawing, painting, collage, or other activities that engage the senses, like taking a shower or a stroll in nature.

Our Inner Author is the channel for our intuition, and when we trust that inner voice, we are flooded with fresh ideas and new inspiration. By resisting the urge to edit prematurely, you create room for serendipity and the discovery of new and exciting ways to frame your book’s content.

Once you've asked your Inner Editor to step aside, the next step is creating conditions where your Inner Author can thrive. Here are seven essential steps for nurturing your Inner Author:

1. Block off time in your calendar to write. Even if it’s just 30 minutes, make sure it’s a productive time of day for you to write.
2. Commit to showing up for this sacred time. Accountability here is vital.
3. Create a nurturing writing environment. Begin with a meditation or centering breathing practice.
4. Set a timer and focus on one subject at a time. Only approach one topic of your book during each writing session.
5. Write as if you’re talking to a friend. Let the words flow through you without worrying how they sound or getting hung up on grammar or punctuation. Set your Inner Author free, errors and all.
6. Encourage your Inner Editor to take the backseat. If you get stuck, gently remind your Inner Editor (or Inner Critic) that your goal is simply to get words onto the page.
7. Keep moving forward. Do this chapter by chapter and topic by topic, and you’ll soon be looking at a finished first draft.

When It's Time to Edit

After your first draft of your manuscript feels complete (and not before!), it’s time to re-engage your Inner Editor to do what it does best: polish and perfect.

Whatever path to publishing you choose, it’s always wise to have a professional book editor review the work before it’s published.

Engaging your Inner Editor and Inner Author at the appropriate times makes writing your book much more productive and enjoyable. Once your first draft is complete, you have a tangible and comprehensive framework to refine and polish, bringing you that much closer to becoming a published book author.

Remember, your first draft doesn’t need to be perfect. It simply needs to get finished! 

For now, your only job is to let your Inner Author lead the way and keep moving forward, one page, one chapter, and one writing session at a time. 

Further Support 

Are you seeking professional support on your journey to write a transformational nonfiction book? We can help. If you're a visionary leader with an important message to share, we'd love to connect. Tell us more about your vision by submitting this form, and we'll schedule a free discovery call to help you explore the best next steps to bringing your book into the world.