With three books on the shelf and another on the way, you’d think I’d have a few things about the creative life figured out. But the truth is, I’m always learning.

And I think that’s how it’s supposed to be.

During my time on the treadmill each morning, I’ve been listening to non-fiction books. Mostly I listen to encouraging, enlightening, thought-provoking stuff. I find it’s a good way to start my day and get the creative juices flowing.

Lately, my book of choice has been ADORNING THE DARK by author, musician, and songwriter, Andrew Peterson. In fact, it may have been one of you who recommended it to me, so thank you. I’m enjoying it very much.

At the end of chapter four, Peterson repeats a statement he made earlier in the text. He says, “Intention trumps execution.”

It’s just three words, but they’re sort of mind boggling for an author. For any creative really who spends much of their time trying to elevate their execution to the level of their intention.

That sounded confusing didn’t it? I apologize. It’s exactly what I meant to say so I’ll leave it, but let me explain.

As writers, we start with such honorable intentions. We’re going to write a story, complete with a beginning, middle, and end. Maybe we prepare some. Maybe we outline. Maybe we fill out plotting worksheets and character interviews. Maybe we draw a map of our story world. We are doing things, friends, and they are part of writing a book.

But then we put words to the page and when we read it back, the writing doesn’t quite live up to our expectations. Despite all our grand intentions, all our doing, the execution isn’t there. We haven’t done it as well as we imagined we would. And so we toss it or set it aside until we’re better.

And so begins the lifelong journey of learning to apply the craft of writing to our own work.

And that makes sense to me. It’s not pleasant, but it feels right.

But also, it’s so hard. Trying to balance CONSISTENTLY DOING with DOING IT EXACTLY RIGHT is difficult. It’s full of starts and stops, tossed manuscripts, and frustration. Whereas simply doing, writing without undue concern about how well-executed a thing is? Well, that’s simple.

Some days I miss simple.

And so something in those three words Andrew Peterson said caught my attention. They made me pause and skip back, turn up the volume and listen closely as he explained how imperfect intention guided the completion of an album. He said,

“If I had waited until the songs were finished, this thing might never have happened. If I had merely tinkered with these songs for all the years it took to finally record them, chances are I would have moved on to other things and never given it a try. It wouldn’t have grown into what it was meant to be. You can think and plan and think some more but none of that is half as important as doing something, however imperfect or incomplete it is. Intention trumps execution, remember?”

It was such a breath of fresh air. To hear a professional, successful creative say that it was okay, better even, to put your energy into doing instead of stressing that you’re not doing it right.

You’re a little tied up about this, aren’t you? I know. And I understand. You visit Go Teen Writers to learn about the craft of writing, to get advice, and grow in your execution.

Am I saying none of that is important? Certainly not. I’m saying it’s not THE MOST important thing. Because I agree with Andrew Peterson here. And my life is a testament to what he says.

If I had waited until I understood exactly how to write a novel, I never would have begun. If I had waited until I was confident in my execution, I’d still be waiting. Because the truth is, I write from the tipping, tilting rock of insecurity. I do not know all there is to know about storytelling and, while that bothers me, I’ve made peace with the fact that I never will.

But what I can do is learn as I go. I can get better as I write. In fact, experience is often the best teacher, and if I hold myself back because I’m not yet excellent, I’m depriving myself of so much knowledge. The knowledge of having gone through the fire and come out on the other side having created something.

And if I could give you anything, friends, it wouldn’t be fancier prose or stronger verbs, it would be the ability to finish a book. Because there’s more benefit, more education in that process, than in anything else I can recommend.

But here’s the kicker. I can’t give you that gift. Doing? Finishing? Those are gifts you give yourself. Today I hope you’ll take whatever passion you have for that story you’re chewing on, and let it fuel you as write. If you wait until you’re better prepared, the passion may fade. And a book without passion, is infinitely sadder than a book imperfectly executed.

We can always go back to perfect the words on the page. It’s much harder to recapture passion once the fire’s been snuffed out.

Tell me, do you worry about imperfection? Does it hold you back from doing?

Shannon Dittemore is an author and speaker. Her books include the Angel Eyes trilogy, a supernatural foray into the realm of angels and demons, as well as the fantastical adventure novel Winter, White and Wicked. Its sequel, Rebel, Brave and Brutal is due out January 10, 2023.

Shannon’s stories feature strong female leads grappling with fear and faith as they venture into the wilds of the unknown. She’s often wondered if she’s writing her own quest for bravery again and again.

It’s a choice she values highly. Bravery. And she’s never more inspired than when young people ball up their fist and punch fear in the face.

To that end, Shannon takes great joy in working with young writers, both in person and online at Go Teen Writers, an instructional blog recognized by Writer’s Digest four years running as a “101 Best Websites for Writers” selection.

For more about Shannon and her books, please visit her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.