Whether your project isn’t exactly going well.

Or you’re not putting in 100% effort at work because your cat just died.

Or you’ve spent the last 8 months living with an overwhelming sense of dread that this conversation with your mom might be the last you’ll ever have with her because she's just that sick.

Know this, Reader, it's perfectly okay not to be perfect.

In fact, we should take the whole concept of perfectionism, crumple it up into a ball, and toss it in the trash. Because honestly—it’s toxic as hell.

Instead, I offer you the following alternative. Probably the most important lesson my dad ever taught me and my little brother. The concept of Precisionism.

Perfectionism demands Herculean levels of unerring mastery that leads many to burn out or worse.

However, precisionism asks only that you put forth all the skill and effort you possess at that moment. Unlike perfectionism, it doesn’t require you to achieve some past greatness. Or rise to some future pinnacle of excellence you have yet to obtain.

Precisionism—in a nutshell—is the idea that you work to the best of your current circumstances, skill, and knowledge. Nothing more, and well within reason to achieve.

Being introduced to this concept allowed me to grow from an eight-year-old dyslexic autistic girl who couldn’t read or write to the professional storyteller I am today.

But most importantly, it gave me the ability to understand that I am not a failure when I do not meet the goals I set for myself. Instead, I must simply recalibrate them to fit what I can achieve today.

Scenetember

On September 1st, I’m launching a new creative challenge Scenetember!

I’m challenging myself and fellow storytellers to ignite their creative brains by writing a 250-500 word scene based on the prompt words below.

These prompt words are designed to inspire creativity, encourage positive and healthy writing habits, and challenge you to approach your creative process in new ways!

Any type of scene is welcome. They can be a side quest for a book you’ve already made, an alternate universe for an established story, or something entirely new. Just get writing and have fun!

(Click on this link to go to my site where you can copy these prompt words in text format if you’d rather have that instead of a graphic.)

If you’d like to talk about and share your Scenetember creations with other Story Questers, Reader, remember to use #scenetember on Threads and Pinterest where you can find me @thesagaofkat

​

Well, Reader, I hope you consider taking up my Precisionist ways and that you’ll join me in the Scenetember Challenge. Until next time, this is your friendly neighborhood storytelling Kat wishing you a wonderfully creative week.

​

Your cohort in storytelling,

Kat Vancil

🐱

PS 👉 Prompt challenges can provide an enormous spark to your creative forge even if you complete them well after the fact. Want some proof? This month my husband is releasing 2 adventure coloring books based on prompt words, D is for Dragon 4 & Q is for Quest.

​D is for Dragon 4 and Q is for Quest are now available in Amazon stores worldwide.

​​​​​

​

Steven J Morris SJMorris Writes Hi! If you enjoy fantasy with snarky humor, I've got some books for you. My newsletter takes you along the creative journey, and keeps you informed of what's brewing. Subscribe​

Not interested in learning to be a storyteller and just want to read some heart-pounding Boys Love fiction instead? Abandon this quest​

Do you need/want to change your name or email? You can update it here​

Don't want to hear from me like ever again? Just Unsubscribe​

The Saga Quest

1179 West A Street, Suite 137, Hayward, CA 94541