They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results. Editing comes dangerously close to insanity, as we writers fine comb our words multiple times, sometimes for years, until we find what we want to say.
Going over the same scene or chapter before the story is finished, however, may be a bit much.
For the last year I’ve been rewriting a novel, the latest version of a story I’ve wanted to tell since the age of twelve. Naturally it’s needed some work. Yet for some reason this project has me overthinking like no other, always wondering if I’m heading in the right direction with it.
If you know you’ve made a mistake, then that proves how capable a writer you are.
This has resulted in many a scrapped draft, including a period in my life I call ‘openings purgatory’, in which I rewrote the novel’s opening so many times even Hemingway would side-eye me. Even he knew when to call it quits and finish the damn thing.
It’s ironic to say that editing has held back my writing progress, particularly on a blog that’s all about editing. But when rewriting and adjusting stops you from getting a full first draft down, can you really call that progress?
Here’s how you can get a full draft finished without stalling yourself through constant editing.
Note Edits Down
Sometimes you write a sentence down and immediately know that it’s garbage. Or you realise a plot point needs changing, or a hole needs filling. But how? Spending too long pondering on that will halt your drafting flow. Instead, make a note on your feedback in the moment and move on.
If you’re working on a word processor, you can add comments directly to your document. If you’re like me and longhand first drafts, keep a separate notebook specifically for writing down changes you want to make later. Or maybe you’d like to go full Teacher Mode and have a red pen ready to cross through anything you hate.
Actually, ‘hate’ is too strong a word. If you’re trying to stop editing while drafting, what you need to do is…
Trust Yourself
When I look back at my various drafts, I realise that the reason they exist is perfectionism. If I miswrote even one sentence, or noticed one plot hole, that felt like a reason to start all over again. My thoughts during these moments were; “This is shit, it will always be shit, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Now give it up and start again.”
But here’s the thing; if you know you’ve made a mistake, then that proves how capable a writer you are. It proves you’ll be able to make the changes you need in the future, so long as you trust your ability to do so.
Note that one word – future. That’s why my final piece of advice is to…
Leave It for a While
I’ve just talked about trusting yourself, but at the same time we writers are the least objective people on record (when it comes to our own work, anyway). We either think we’ve drafted the next big thing or the next big pile of kindling for the fire.
Because of this, every writer ever advises leaving time between writing ‘The End’ and getting the red pen out. It allows you to return to the text as a reader might, with no prior knowledge or emotional connection to your words. Whatever you find good or bad will be based on your writing expertise, rather than how you ‘feel’ about your draft.
But how long should you take between first draft and edit? That’s a topic for next week’s blog.
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