My Huffington Post Essay: “Recovering Perfectionist”

“When I’m working on a new book, especially during the editing process, I set a goal of reading and re-reading the manuscript until I can read it straight through without finding a single typo or other mistake. Even with a publishing team working on the project, also scanning for errors, I will usually read a manuscript about a hundred times myself before my editor yanks it from my hands and sends it off to the printer.

Invariably, a few months later when I get the first copy hot off the presses, I open the book and right there like a flashing neon sign is the one typo we all missed. Without fail, this has happened with every one of my 17 books so far. And, without fail, this consumes me with jolts of regret and failure: What will readers think when they see the typo? Will they think I’m a bad writer? Does this typo mar the whole book?”

To read my full essay, please click HERE.