Time is the best editor.
If you have it, time is the easiest trick for self-editing. Simply put your work away long enough so when you come back to it you can see it with fresh eyes.
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Time is the best editor. If you have it, time is the easiest trick for self-editing. Simply put your work away long enough so when you come back to it you can see it with fresh eyes.
You might prefer one approach to making time to write, but the reality of your day-to-day life may mean you need to use a combination to move your writing forward. Be flexible, keep experimenting with different approaches, don’t compare yourself to others, and most importantly don’t compare yourself to an idealised future-you or a rose-tinted versi
... See moreBec Evans, Chris Smith, • Written
But all of this, at every step, is more felt than decided. When I’m writing well, there’s almost no intellectual/analytical thinking going on. When I first found this method, it felt so freeing. I didn’t have to worry, didn’t have to decide, I just had to be there as I read my story fresh each time, watching that meter, willing to (playfully) make
... See moreGeorge Saunders • A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life
It’s important (not to mention reassuring) to keep in mind that writing is a process. It is rarely possible to address all of a story’s trouble spots in a single draft, so don’t be hard on yourself. It’s not you; it’s the nature of the beast.
Lisa Cron • Wired for Story
2. Write and edit at different times.
I used to think writing and editing were the same thing – but they're different processes.
And your writing will *always* look good shortly after writing it – because you just wrote it!
So, you need to give it time to breathe.
Try this:
Between drafts: "How long you let your book rest— sort of like bread dough between kneadings— is entirely up to you, but I think it should be a minimum of six weeks. During this time your manuscript will be safely shut away in a desk drawer, aging and (one hopes) mellowing."
Stephen King • On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
By patience, I’m not referring just to the amount of time that creation will take, but also the long view with which you evaluate your own work.
Ryan Holiday • Perennial Seller: The Art of Making and Marketing Work that Lasts
It might feel like a waste, but it works: Write more, so you can edit more. Starting with raw thoughts then slicing down your fluff to the core essentials is how you get to genius.
Jeff Goins • You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One)
- Rule #2: Ask yourself, “Is this still going to be a good piece to read in 6, 12, 24 months time?”