Moving Beyond Binary Success and Failure in Writing

Many writers find themselves trapped in binary thinking about their writing journey, measuring themselves purely in terms of success or failure, especially as the year draws to a close. In both this blog and my subscriber-only Monday Writing Motivation mailer, I explore how we can break free from this restrictive mindset and find more joy and meaning in our writing practice.

Writing Tips

• Instead of focusing on completed/not completed targets, keep a “writing journey journal” where you document small victories, learnings, and discoveries made during your writing process. This shifts focus from pure outcomes to growth and helps you recognize progress in all its forms.
• Create flexible, adaptive goals that acknowledge the organic nature of writing. Rather than “finish novel by December,” try “develop my protagonist’s arc through three key scenes” or “explore two new possible endings for my story.” This approach allows for creative evolution while maintaining forward momentum.
• Practise what I call “reflection without judgment” – set aside 10 minutes each week to review your writing progress, focusing not on success/failure metrics but on what interested you, what challenged you, and what you learned. This builds a healthier relationship with your writing practice.

Writing Exercise

Choose a recent writing project you consider a “failure.” Spend 15 minutes writing about it from three different perspectives: what you learned technically about writing, what you discovered about yourself as a writer, and what unexpected doors this experience might have opened. Transform your binary “failure” into a multi-faceted learning experience.

Quote and Analysis

The only true misstep isn’t in writing ‘badly’ or missing our goals – it’s in refusing to dance at all.

This metaphor of writing as dance captures the essence of creative practice – it’s not about perfection but about staying in motion, learning from our missteps, and finding joy in the process itself.

Want to dive deeper?

Want to explore deeper insights about breaking free from binary thinking in your writing journey? Sign up for our Monday Writing Motivation email for exclusive content that will help you embrace the rich spectrum between success and failure, find joy in the process, and develop a more nurturing relationship with your writing practice.