Breaking the Cycle: Overcoming Perfection with Writing

Fear and perfectionism lead to procrastination. Every second of the hour becomes heavier, whether putting ink to the page or fingers to the keyboard, making the act of  writing increasingly daunting. However, if one teaches themselves to journal and express themselves as an exercise rather than placing pressure on achieving perfection, their confidence would build as well as their writing. Finding your voice as a high school student is very important, it shows originality and authenticity. It is not writing to please what the teacher wants to hear, but expressing your true thoughts and ideas.  In chapter 2 of Troy Hick's Creating Confident Writers: : For High School, College, and Life reads, "A less common, though less important, temporal landmark that we would like to see in a classroom across the country is dedicated classroom time for independent creative writing. Though the research here is not robust as it is for independent reading, Andy supports the idea that sustained, in-class, independent creative writing increases the likelihood of building a writing identity for students (Hicks, p. 28). This suggests that structured opportunities for creative expression help students reduce procrastination. Journaling and stricter creative writing practices can help individuals build confidence and develop a stronger writing identity.

 

This struggle is echoed in the classroom experience, where the creative process fluctuates between productivity and stagnation. Similarly, Penny Kittle’s Write Beside Them articulates, "There is a deep connection between Art and Fear (and a great book of the same title about this), so my writing classroom hums with productivity some days and lurches along with what feels like little success on others" (Kittle, p. 63).  Writing is inconsistent between some productive days and some dreadful days. However, the whole point of independent creative writing is to help students shift their perspective and embrace their growth. As Hicks and Kittle suggest, working through fear can foster a stronger writing identity; writers can unlock their potential and develop a more authentic voice. 

Works Cited

Hicks, Troy, and Andy Schoenborn. Creating Confident Writers: For High School, College, and Life. WW Norton, 2020. Accessed 16 February 2025.

Kittle, Penny. Write Beside Them: Risk, Voice, and Clarity in High School Writing. Heinemann, 2008. Accessed 16 February 2025.