Strive For Progress not Perfection

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Here's something you didn't know about me.

I'm a recovering perfectionist for 15 years now.

There, I've said it.

Stop laughing because this is serious. I'm not proud of  it but with some hard work I've been able to reduce its affects to almost negligible levels.

Writers are notorious for wanting their work to be perfect and because of that, many projects will not see the light of day or the eyes of a reader because it does not live up to the impossible standards set. You must have heard authors say they have work hidden away in drawers and cupboards that have never seen the light of day? The reason for that is they think its not good enough. Don't get me wrong your work must be created to the highest standards which I might add are set by you. After those standards are met then the world deserves to share in that work. So get it out there.

But perfectionism is a sneaky adversary and if you'r not vigilant it will have you in its clutches in the most unexpected of ways.

Case in point, my most recent experiences in the Self Publishing trenches.

As you know  Joshua N'Gon Last Prince of Alkebulahn  is Launching on Monday 5th of June as an ebook and a paperback. I started the process as I would usually do but I decided to use Kindle Direct Publishing new paperback process that they have been promoting.

Big mistake.

The Kindle Dashboard would not accept the cover dimensions my graphic guy was uploading. Three days later we had to abandon it.
A similar fate was lying in the wings for the e-book.

KDP has a Pre-Order option that I was itching to use and  Joshua N'Gon Last Prince of Alkebulahn was to be the best candidate. The rules are that all amendments to manuscript and cover must be made 3 days before the Launch Date. Four days before the Launch Date I'm ready to upload the right cover and amended manuscript and the KDP dashboard has blocked my access. Amazon Kindle has no telephone help desk, so contact is done through email and although they say 24hrs, I still haven't heard from them.

Now this story of woe would have been so different fifteen years ago. I would have been a wreck. Think about it. On my Launch Date, for my most anticipated book, my ebook has an old manuscript and wrong cover uploaded and my paperback option has just crashed and burned. In that moment, I would be stressed, on the verge of throwing in the towel and walking away from it all. I had the perfect shiny image of a smooth launch in my head until reality shattered it. 

My former, addicted to perfection self, would be freaking out but  my present self is focused on the things I did right and the things I can change. The end product may not be perfect for the day - I can fix the issues later, but as  Steve Jobs said Real Artists Ship.

And that for me outside of creating the art itself, is what it's all about. Getting the imperfect book into your perfect hands.

Peace, Love and Power

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