Dear Friend,
People bandy the word “perfect” around often. I laughed when someone commented in my texts, “PERFRCT,” as an answer to a question.
I reviewed the Merriam-Webster definition of perfect. The definition: As good as it is possible to be, flawless.
With the new year, I’ve heard people wishing others “a perfect new year.” The idea is almost frightening since it’s certain, with subjectivity applied, someone’s “perfect” is often far from it in someone else’s view of life.
Think about it. What is “perfect” to you? When I was a teenager, potato chips and dip were perfect when I watched a movie. What will you resist eating when you know it’s bad for you?
Before I go further, I admit I am far from perfect or flawless. I do attempt perfection, being as good as I can be, but I know I make mistakes. My writing has had tiny (two-letter word) errors that were missed after I made twelve – or more – reviews of my copy, plus an editor, and BETA readers also missed the errors.
Very little is truly perfect, but some things subjectively can be.
Food, for instance. I’ve had fun checking the ratings on food purchased at the grocery store with an application called “Yuka.” Scan the barcode on a food’s container and check the 0-100 rating. I was sad when some of my favorite foods received “poor” or even “bad” ratings. I’m reconsidering whether I’ll eat those items again.
However, predictably, foods like organic Greek yogurt and steamed sweet potato sticks were each rated 100! Rather tasteless unless used in other foods. I appreciate Yuka’s ratings because they don’t take sponsorships from food companies. They are honorable and unbiased. But I still might eat something that is rated “poor,” such as Tillamook’s butter pecan ice cream, rated poor for “too sweet” and “too fatty.” That’s what ice cream is! I’ll be ignoring that rating.
When I consider what my characters will resist and what their ideas of perfection are, I know every character is different. As different as people in real life. Louisa’s mom Shannon was the closest to a perfectionist of any person I’ve created or known. She had a reason: she was a sculptor, and her projects needed to be perfect. Look at my prequel, Love at First Sight, to see the efforts artists make to be “perfect.” Also, you’ll be able to read two free short stories if you sign up (on ShelleySommers.com front page) to receive my emails.
PS My blogs will arrive in your inbox every Thursday after 10:00 a.m. in the future, instead of just two Thursdays per month! So much to share!
NOTE: I’m really close to finishing my manuscript, The Greatest Thing. Just waiting for the bananas to ripen, so I can double-check my recipe for Banana Bread! (Recipes will be in the back of each book.)
Best wishes!
