--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think we're so often, as writers…" description: "\"I think we're so often, as writers, afraid of writing something that is less than perfect, and that fear paralyzes us. I'm a big fan of writing less th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/raphael-bob-waksberg-3980_afraid_i-think-we-re-so-often-as-writers-afraid_139158.jpg" --- # I think we're so often, as writers, afraid of writing… ![“I think we're so often, as writers, afraid of writing something that is less than perfect, and that fear paralyzes us. I'm a big fan of writing less than perfect things.” quote by Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/raphael-bob-waksberg-3980_afraid_i-think-we-re-so-often-as-writers-afraid_139158.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/raphael-bob-waksberg-3980_afraid_i-think-we-re-so-often-as-writers-afraid_139158.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/raphael-bob-waksberg-3980_afraid_i-think-we-re-so-often-as-writers-afraid_139158.jpg) > “I think we're so often, as writers, afraid of writing something that is less than perfect, and that fear paralyzes us. I'm a big fan of writing less than perfect things.” [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfectionism paralyzes creativity; embracing imperfection fuels productivity **In simple terms:** Imperfect work is better than none Key Takeaway Write despite fear Themes creativity perfectionism productivity Mood motivational practical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - writing sessions - brainstorming - drafting - public speaking Key Concepts growth mindset creative process Questions to Reflect On - How can you measure progress without perfection? - What steps help overcome creative paralysis? A Different Perspective Risk of low quality output ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Afraid Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-writing-777159/) [Big fan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-fan/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Perfect Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-fear-1576129/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writers Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-afraid-1576128/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Many writers are afraid of writing something bad, so they don't try or give up when their efforts don't lead to a masterpiece right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/many-writers-are-afraid-of-writing-something-bad-so-they-don-t-try-or/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [ We're \[writers\] all afraid of writing badly, and there are psychological reasons, like the bad interior of ourselves is somehow being revealed, but we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/we-re-writers-all-afraid-of-writing-badly-and-there-are-psychological/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Many writers are afraid of writing something bad, so they dont try or give up when their efforts dont lead to a masterpiece right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/many-writers-are-afraid-of-writing-something-bad-so-they-dont-try-or/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [Nobody is perfect, so get over the fear of being or doing everything perfectly. Besides perfect is boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-michaels/nobody-is-perfect-so-get-over-the-fear-of-being-or-doing-everything/) [Jillian Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-michaels/) > [Nobody is perfect, so get over the fear of being or doing everything perfectly. Besides, perfect is boring. Today, instead of picking yourself apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-michaels/nobody-is-perfect-so-get-over-the-fear-of-being-or-doing-everything-2/) [Jillian Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-michaels/) > [Most writers, I'm afraid, live very boring lives sitting in front of a screen. However, having said that: every writer puts a bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/most-writers-i-m-afraid-live-very-boring-lives-sitting-in-front-of-a/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [The reason people get afraid of writing real, honest journalism and fiction, and the reason corrupted people and demagogues are afraid of journalism and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/the-reason-people-get-afraid-of-writing-real-honest-journalism-and/) [Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/) > [Tips for aspiring writers: don't be afraid of writing rubbish. It's very easy to become hypnotised by an empty page or screen. It's tempting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/tips-for-aspiring-writers-don-t-be-afraid-of-writing-rubbish-it-s/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [I think writing for me has always been a matter of fear. Writing is fear and not writing is fear. I am afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/i-think-writing-for-me-has-always-been-a-matter-of-fear-writing-is/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [When you are a sentence-based writer, they have to be good. They have to be really on the spot. Because when you don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/per-petterson/when-you-are-a-sentence-based-writer-they-have-to-be-good-they-have/) [Per Petterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/per-petterson/) > [Because I've always been more afraid of writing than I have of doing anything visually such as directing or acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-o-connor/because-i-ve-always-been-more-afraid-of-writing-than-i-have-of-doing/) [Renee O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-o-connor/) > [I found that many gifted people are so afraid of writing a poor story that they cannot summon the nerve to write a single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-ueland/i-found-that-many-gifted-people-are-so-afraid-of-writing-a-poor-story/) [Brenda Ueland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-ueland/) > [I'm not afraid of writing about sensitive subjects, but I want to be careful how I do so and I know not all readers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/i-m-not-afraid-of-writing-about-sensitive-subjects-but-i-want-to-be/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [“I used to be afraid about what people might say or think after reading what I had written. I am not afraid anymore, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/i-used-to-be-afraid-about-what-people-might-say-or-think-after/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [Writing practice brings us back to the uniqueness of our own minds and an acceptance of it. We all have wild dreams, fantasies, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/writing-practice-brings-us-back-to-the-uniqueness-of-our-own-minds/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) ## More by Raphael Bob-Waksberg > [I'm excited when any Netflix show comes out. I'm like, 'Yeah, Netflix! Doin' great! We're all on the same side.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/i-m-excited-when-any-netflix-show-comes-out-i-m-like-yeah-netflix/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [I am doing what I can to expand the tent and bring up other people and make sure we are telling different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/i-am-doing-what-i-can-to-expand-the-tent-and-bring-up-other-people/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [One of the things that set us apart early on, as opposed to other animated shows, was the fact that 'Bojack' was continuous and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/one-of-the-things-that-set-us-apart-early-on-as-opposed-to-other/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [I am really excited by the form of short fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/i-am-really-excited-by-the-form-of-short-fiction/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [Part of being a writer is just getting it in your bones, getting the muscle memory down, just doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/part-of-being-a-writer-is-just-getting-it-in-your-bones-getting-the/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [I thought it would be a fun change of pace to do a show about a really sad, depressed character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/i-thought-it-would-be-a-fun-change-of-pace-to-do-a-show-about-a/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [I want each season to feel new and special. I don't want it to feel, "Oh, more of this." That's something that's easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/i-want-each-season-to-feel-new-and-special-i-don-t-want-it-to-feel-oh/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [So many cartoons are about real fun, happy-go-lucky simpletons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/so-many-cartoons-are-about-real-fun-happy-go-lucky-simpletons/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [Art is a dialogue. I'm throwing rocks across a chasm and hoping people catch them on the other side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/art-is-a-dialogue-i-m-throwing-rocks-across-a-chasm-and-hoping-people/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [I think it's good to leave people with the memory of that being a great character. And if we have a reason to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/i-think-it-s-good-to-leave-people-with-the-memory-of-that-being-a/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [I've written six seasons of a TV show with great help from an incredible staff of writers and other collaborators, but I still feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/i-ve-written-six-seasons-of-a-tv-show-with-great-help-from-an/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > ['Lost in Translation' movie says something interesting about the alienation of being a stranger in a strange land, but also of being a celebrity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/lost-in-translation-movie-says-something-interesting-about-the/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [The caustic style of 'Archer' was really on my mind when I was first doing 'BoJack' - perhaps too much!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/the-caustic-style-of-archer-was-really-on-my-mind-when-i-was-first/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [The Comeback' is so cringey and difficult, but watching it, what I was really struck with was the kindness and the generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/the-comeback-is-so-cringey-and-difficult-but-watching-it-what-i-was/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) > [I think you need to think of yourself as a flawed human being with aspirations for goodness and never start to think, 'Oh, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-bob-waksberg/i-think-you-need-to-think-of-yourself-as-a-flawed-human-being-with/) [Raphael Bob-Waksberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) [Explore all 118 Raphael Bob-Waksberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-bob-waksberg/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think we're so often, as writers, afraid of writing something that is less than perfect, and that fear paralyzes us. 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