Tomorrow, I’ll be 39.
As I look in the mirror and run my fingers through my hair, I can’t help but notice the single strands of bright white peeking through my naturally jet-black mane.
I admit it.
The first thing I want to do is grab my tweezers and pluck those pesky white hairs out. They’re messing with the flow of my perfect black hair. And they make me feel older than I want to feel.
But I resist, convincing myself that they add character, while I quietly wonder if I’ll one day end up with a Cruella de Vil-like head of black and white hair.
As it often goes, my mind wanders to the art of writing and how difficult it can be to create content that feels perfect. You have a message to share and you want to say it right, the first time. After all, this may be the only opportunity you have to capture your reader’s attention and move them into meaningful action.
So you fervently work to eliminate any mistakes, quirks and nuances in your writing, similar to me wanting to yank the threads of white growing between my thick black hair.
But writing is an imperfect art. Of course, there are grammar rules and such, but you can create your own imperfect rules too. Sometimes imperfection is exactly what’s needed to make your writing resonate and connect with your readers.
So whether you’re a professional writer or someone who writes because you have to, I encourage you to spend time getting to know the emerging Cruella de Vil in your writing. How does she add character to your writing, character that compels and interests your readers?
Give it some thought. Cruella may not be the nemesis you originally believed her to be. She may very well be your writing muse.
image credit: Loren Javier via Flickr
