Writing Tip: Turn Off Your Editor

What exactly does that mean?  Why would you intentionally turn off your editor?  The truth is, it will make you a better writer.  Sound crazy?  Here's what it really means...

Okay, I'll start with an admission: I don't always follow this advice...but I wish I did.

See, my perfectionist side tends to take over when I'm writing.  I will finish a paragraph, then suddenly read back over it and immediately start editing.  No! No! NO!

You might be tempted to do this as well. But it's not a good idea.  Why? Because the creative part of your brain and the logical/editor portion of your brain do not get along. They occupy different parts of your brain, and while one is being tapped, the other is....well, shut down.  They do not work and play well together.

So, the answer is to turn off your editor, at least for a little while.  Obviously you will want to come back later and use the red pen to mark up your work. But when you are in creative mode, force yourself to stay there.  Just spill all of the words out onto the paper, without worrying about spelling or grammar or point of view, or any of that.  Get it all out.  Then, go back later and clean things up.

As I mentioned, I'm bad about this, but I'm trying to get better.  For now, just write and write and write...that little editor in your head can read a book or watch tv until you're finished.

Leave a Reply

Fields marked with  * are required.

Name *
Email * (will not be published)
Website
Comment