ABSTRACT
Perfectionism, a condition in which individuals set unattainable goals and become excessively self-critical when they fail to reach them, can be pernicious to scholarly writers; not only can this trait increase levels of stress, depression, exhaustion, and burnout in doctoral and post-doctoral trainees, but it can also impede publishing productivity among new and established researchers alike. Due to its insidious effects on writers’ well-being and scholarly output, it is crucial that mentors better understand perfectionism and, for their mentees who experience it, respond with a repertoire of approaches to help them manage it. Accordingly, I draw on my professional background in mentoring academic writers in a range of settings-in writing classes, during individual writing consultations, and through writing events-to offer constructive strategies for those mentoring scholarly writers experiencing perfectionism. These strategies include normalizing professional failures, helping writers to prevent procrastination, providing constructive and supportive feedback, promoting healthy attitudes towards writing, and encouraging mindful approaches to writing. By using such strategies, mentors can often help diminish the deleterious effects of perfectionism in their mentees’ writing practices.
