Anne Lamott, author of Bird by Bird – Some Instructions on Writing and Life, said, "Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life." Essentially: Perfectionism kills creativity.
She also said good writing is about telling the truth.
The two ideas seem to be at odds, in opposition to each other. But maybe not.
Perhaps she is saying that truth should come easily, with joy, like a gift, not as a result of intense labour, the elusive pursuit of an ideal.
After all, she says, writing "is about some of our deepest needs: our need to be visible, to be heard, our need to make sense of our lives, to wake up and grow and belong."
READ MORE of Anne Lamott's advice on writing
Very useful quotes. The desire to write something immediately beautiful often stalls me from begining to write.