I have a very bad habit when it comes to editing. I start out planning to fix plot errors and spelling mishaps but in the end I usually decide I hate the whole draft and want to start over. I've lost count of how many times that's happened.
So now I have a finished draft that I already know of some plot holes I need to fix. But I keep thinking that once I start editing I'll end deciding I hate it and start over. With this particular draft I have rewritten it about three times already. Each time I read each draft I ended up liking some parts and wondered what the heck I was thinking at others. So today as I start reading this finished draft and begin edits, I'm scared of hating it. I really want to get something finished and then begin the process of self-publishing e-books. I keep thinking that even though I really like the draft and I have a really good feeling about it. But there's that fear in the back of mind that I'm going to slip into my habit of hating it.
So this time I'm jumping into editing with a plan in mind. Any time I get that urge to just hate the draft I'm going to stop what I'm doing and pray. I've felt for years the Lord guiding my writing. Every time I'm close to the Lord and asking for Him to lead my life the easier it is for me to write. I get this resounding sense of peace over everything in my life. So even though I have put a lot of pressure on myself to get my writing career going I feel a good about what I'm writing. I really like the direction my draft is heading in and I'm really excited to edit it and have other's to read it. I'm terrified of finding myself hating the draft but I need to put that fear aside. I'm going to trust God to guide the words I write.
We are our own toughest critic. I recommend maybe having someone else edit it at the same time as you, that way when you start feeling that way, they can tell you that you're crazy, or that maybe this part needs to be changed. It'll help put things more into perspective for you, and maybe help you only throw out a scene instead of a whole story.
ReplyDeleteI'll volunteer if you need someone ;)