The Myth of the Perfect Book: Why Waiting for the Right Moment Keeps You Stuck
- Tori McElwain
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
If you’ve been carrying around a book idea in your mind for a while, maybe months or even years, you’re not alone. So many talented quilting and crafting teachers have a vision for their book, but hesitate to start. Why?
Because they think they need to wait until:
Their idea is fully formed
Their outline is perfect
They have a big enough audience
They have more time
They feel totally confident and ready
Here’s the truth: waiting for the perfect moment usually means never starting.
1. Perfection Is a Moving Target
You might feel like you’re being smart or strategic by holding off until “everything is in place.” But most of the time, what’s actually happening is fear disguised as planning.
The idea of a perfect book - or the perfect starting point - is a myth. Even bestselling authors start with messy drafts, half-baked outlines, and doubts. Clarity comes through the process, not before it.
2. You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out
You don’t need to know every chapter title, pattern layout, or story structure before you begin.
In fact, many of the quilt authors we have worked with find their best ideas after they start. Once you commit to the process, your brain begins to organize what you already know - and you can shape it with support along the way.
3. Your First Draft Isn’t Your Final Draft
One of the biggest mindset shifts? Realizing that your first draft isn’t the book—it’s just the start of it.
You wouldn’t expect a first quilt block to define the entire quilt. The same goes for your manuscript. With editing, feedback, and structure, you’ll refine your voice and message. But you can’t improve a blank page.
4. Starting Now Builds Momentum (and Confidence)
Every time you avoid your book because it’s not “ready,” you reinforce the belief that you can’t do it. But every small step you take - outlining one section, jotting down a story, sketching your structure - builds momentum. It builds proof that you can do this.
You don't need 10 free hours a week. You need a reason to start - and a structure that supports you through the messy middle.
5. The Self-Publishing Incubator Is Designed for Imperfect Starts
This is exactly why I created the Self-Publishing Incubator: to guide quilting and crafting entrepreneurs like you through the process of turning an idea (even an imperfect one!) into a finished, published book.
You’ll get:
A step-by-step framework that walks you through each phase
Feedback from a content editor and a quilt tech editor
Monthly 1:1 coaching to keep you accountable
A full support team that understands your world
You don’t have to do this alone. You just have to start.
Your Next Step:
Grab a notebook and write this question at the top:“If I gave myself permission to start messy… what’s one section I’d begin with today?” That’s your entry point.
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