The Joy of Imperfection: How to Overcome Perfectionism in Songwriting

Photo by Celine Ellis

Have you ever found yourself stuck on a single lyric line, tweaking it over and over, never quite satisfied? Or maybe you’ve got a folder full of unfinished songs that don’t feel “good enough” to finish? If so, you’re not alone. Perfectionism is one of the biggest creativity killers for songwriters.

In The Joy of Imperfection, Damon Zahariades explores how perfectionism fuels procrastination, self-doubt, and fear of failure. The good news? Imperfection isn’t a flaw—it’s actually the key to unlocking creativity. Below, I’m sharing some key takeaways from this powerful read and how embracing imperfection can help you become a more productive, confident, and fearless songwriter.

Perfectionism Kills Creativity

Perfectionism might seem noble—it means you care about your craft, right? But in reality, it can hold you back. When you’re obsessed with making every line perfect, you hesitate, overthink, and often give up before you’ve even finished a song.

Give yourself permission to write without judgement. The first draft of a song doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to exist. You can apply a touch of perfection in the editing stage, but even then, keep it on a leash. Don’t let it run wild over your creative process.

Focus on Progress, Not Perfection

A half-finished song sitting in your notebook doesn’t help you grow. Real progress comes from finishing songs—even the messy ones. The challenge isn’t to make each piece perfect, but to make it worth completing. As Leonardo da Vinci said, “Art is never finished, only abandoned”—but when you choose to abandon it is what counts.

Try setting time limits for your songwriting sessions. Write a full song in an hour. Commit to finishing a rough draft in one sitting. These practices help shift your mindset from “make it perfect” to “get it done.”

Mistakes Are Part of the Process

Every songwriter has written “bad” songs—yes, even the pros. Sometimes, we do it intentionally just to clear the cobwebs and move forward. Every single song teaches you something.

Think of songwriting like a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it becomes. When you give yourself permission to experiment, make mistakes, and write freely, you open the door to ideas you wouldn’t discover by playing it safe.

Silence Your Inner Critic

I say this almost weekly: that little voice in your head telling you your lyrics aren’t good enough? It’s lying. The inner critic is one of creativity’s biggest roadblocks. If you listen too closely, you may never finish anything.

Try writing without stopping to critique yourself. Let the ideas flow first—there’s plenty of time for polishing later. Creative exploration and critical editing are both essential, but they belong in different stages of the process.

Overcome Perfectionism in Songwriting: Embrace "Done Is Better Than Perfect"

Perfectionism doesn’t just stop you from finishing songs—it can stop you from sharing them. But here’s the truth: no song is ever truly perfect. Even well-known artists change their lyrics years after releasing a track or adapt their songs when playing live.

I’m not saying don’t aim for quality—but don’t let the pursuit of perfection hold you back. Every song you finish is a step forward, and every song you share builds your confidence and strengthens your voice as a songwriter.

Bonus Takeaway: Build a Consistent Writing Habit

One of the most impactful messages in Zahariades’ book is this: “Waiting for the perfect moment leads to inaction.” That hit me hard. The truth is, there’s no such thing as the perfect time to write. If you wait for inspiration to strike or conditions to be ideal, you may never get started.

Instead, write regularly—even when it’s hard. Whether it’s a verse a day or one song a week, creating a writing habit takes the pressure off and allows your creativity to flow more naturally. Over time, you’ll build resilience, confidence, and a growing body of work.

Final Thoughts

As songwriters, we need to embrace imperfection. The goal isn’t to write perfect songs—it’s to keep writing, exploring, finishing, and improving. Progress always beats perfection.

So, the next time you feel stuck, remind yourself: done is better than perfect. Write the song. Finish it. Refine it. Share it. And then? Move on to the next one.

What’s one way you’ve overcome perfectionism in your songwriting? Share your thoughts in the comments below!