Enjoy this short, encouraging tutorial on how self-editing while you write hurts your project and you. These are a few ways that self-editing hurts the creative process:
Self-editing invites imposter syndrome.
Self-editing AS you write slows the creative flow of ideas.
Self-editing is a negative, self-critical experience.
Self-editing is critical, and writing is creative. When you go from creative writing to editing your writing, your brain switches gears, so you lose efficiency. To understand more about this, research “context transition” or “work batching.”
I have GOOD NEWS, TOO! You absolutely should self-edit your work when you finish something substantial, like a scene, a chapter, or a section of a book. You may also wait until you’ve written the first draft. Many authors do. Actually, many authors write their first drafts on PAPER so that the temptation to self-edit is reduced.
MORE GOOD NEWS: When you revise (self-edit) a large piece of work, you train your brain to avoid those mistakes in the future, so you do improve your writing skills while you improve your written work.
Remember, nothing beats a professional editor. That is the best money a writer can spend. BUT, send your editor your best work. Write freely, get into the flow, fearlessly enjoy the creative process. Then go back to word one and self-edit to “The End.” That order of operations will help you present your best work to a professional editor and keep negativity out of your writing journey.
Don’t blow the creative flow!
We have beautiful, sturdy notebooks that travel well and are great for brainstorming, book planning, free-writing, and journaling. Visit the Crippled Beagle Publishing Bookstore to browse.
Happy fearless writing!
Xoxoxo
Jody
