Introduction: The Prison of the Perfect Page
You sit down to write and… nothing feels good enough.
You delete more than you type. You second-guess every sentence. You rework that opening line again and convince yourself you’re not ready. Or talented. Or inspired.
Sound familiar?
That’s not laziness. That’s perfectionism—a subtle, ruthless form of self-sabotage that many intermediate writers face as their skills improve and their standards rise.
But here’s the cure: writing wild.
This guide is about ditching control, embracing chaos, and rediscovering creative freedom by intentionally writing messy, wrong, bold, and imperfect on purpose.
Understand What Perfectionism Really Is
Perfectionism isn’t about “doing your best.” It’s about avoiding failure—and often, avoiding vulnerability.
For writers, perfectionism shows up as:
- Relentless rewriting of your first paragraph
- Fear of finishing because then you’ll have to be judged
- Avoiding new projects unless you feel “ready”
- Needing every sentence to “prove” your talent
It’s a creativity killer disguised as discipline.
Reality check:
Great stories don’t come from perfect pages. They come from messy, surprising drafts written by brave writers who dare to be bad before they get good.
The Wild Draft: What It Is and Why You Need It
A wild draft is the raw, emotional, instinctual version of your story before editing, logic, or critique steps in. It’s your id on paper—your storytelling animal unleashed.
Writing wild gives you:
- Speed and momentum
- Emotional honesty
- Surprise twists your logical brain would have edited out
- Permission to suck—so you can finally finish
Think of it like an improv performance: the magic is in the unplanned moments.
10 Wild Writing Techniques to Break the Perfectionism Cycle
These aren’t just “prompts.” They’re creative disruptions.
1. The 10-Minute Mess
Set a timer. No backspacing. Write anything about your story world—even if it’s contradictory, off-topic, or chaotic.
2. Caps Lock Therapy
WRITE A SCENE IN CAPS LOCK TO TURN OFF YOUR INNER EDITOR. IT FEELS RIDICULOUS. GOOD. KEEP GOING.
3. Write Like You’re Drunk (But You’re Sober)
Forget grammar. Forget rules. Write your character’s stream of consciousness with no punctuation. It’s messy gold.
4. Use the “Wrong” Word
Force yourself to use the wrong verb or a bizarre metaphor in each paragraph. You’ll unlock surprising language patterns.
5. Channel a Writing Persona
Become your “alter-ego writer” for 20 minutes. Are they chaotic? Sensual? Brutal? Let them write their version of the scene.
6. Unleash the Worst Version
Write the worst possible ending, the worst possible decision, the worst dialogue. Go full soap opera. You’ll break your fear of being “bad.”
7. Write It Like a Dream
Make no logical sense. Write in fragments. Break linearity. Let symbols lead.
8. Write at a Weird Time
Wake up at 3 a.m. and write one page in the dark. Or whisper a scene aloud into your phone at midnight. The strangeness unlocks freedom.
9. Create Chaos Constraints
Every character must lie. Every object must be a metaphor. Every line starts with “But…” Chaos as craft.
10. Burn the Outline (Just for Now)
Take a break from planning and write against your structure. See what the story becomes without the map.
Why Writing Wild Actually Makes You a Better Writer
When you write wild, you:
- Reconnect with your subconscious
- Push past cliché and safe storytelling
- Train yourself to write through discomfort
- Build momentum without overthinking
Most of all, it reminds you why you started writing: for the thrill, not the polish.
Remember: Editing is for sculpting. Drafting is for digging.
How to Deal with the Guilt of Writing Imperfectly
Perfectionist writers often feel guilty when their work doesn’t match their taste.
Here’s the truth: your taste improves faster than your output. That’s not a flaw—it’s a sign of growth.
To rewrite your inner dialogue:
- Replace “This is bad” with “This is brave”
- Replace “This isn’t ready” with “This is a beginning”
- Replace “I can’t use this” with “I can mine this later”
You’re not building a product. You’re building creative muscle.
Rituals to Embrace Chaos in Your Routine
Start adding ritualized chaos to your writing practice:
- Wild Wednesdays: Set aside one day a week to write without structure, outline, or intention.
- Unedited Pages Folder: Create a special folder for chaotic, strange, or unedited ideas. Let it be sacred.
- Writing Joy Jar: After each wild session, write a note about what surprised or delighted you. Collect joy, not just words.
Progress, Not Polish, Builds Books
If you only write when the muse is cooperative, or the prose is clean, or the grammar is crisp…you’ll barely write.
But if you write when it’s messy—write when it’s confusing—write when it’s embarrassing or absurd or chaotic—you’ll become unstoppable.
Perfectionism whispers “wait.” Chaos yells “GO.” Choose chaos.
Because wild words are alive. And life is what stories are made of. Now, go forth and find your productive pace and writing joy.