This paper will explore the common problem of perfectionism among writers—from both a personal and academic perspective.
Once upon a time not long ago, I used to live in a bubble where I thought my writing was flawless. It was in middle school, that the bubble was broken when I started receiving criticism. As frustrating as it was at that point, slowly, I learned to accept my flaws with reassurance from my mentors. I call this moment the turning point of my journey as that is when I started to “learn how to write,” because it made me realize that writing is nothing without feedback. And I realized that no writing (or writer) is perfect.
Curious to explore more, I interviewed a focus group of students and faculty to ask if they have struggled with perfectionism in their writing. These conversations provided insight on the common struggles that many writers in the Union community face. My paper will explore how conversations and moments of introspection and discomfort can help us become more proficient and empathetic writers.