Speedy Writing Tip: Turn Off Your Inner Editor
Written by Alexis Rodrigo · Print This Article
Today’s speedy writing tip is brought to you by my university composition professor who said, “Write in white heat; edit in cold blood.”
(Or something like that. I can’t be sure because that was 20 years ago and I’ve had 3 children since then.)
Her point is: when you’re writing something – anything – just charge through the task like an angry bull.
How to Write in White Heat
Turn off your inner editor while you’re pounding away at your first draft. Why? Because he or she can really slow you down. Imagine this:
In the middle of your first sentence, that editor will whisper, “Is that really the right word?” There go your thoughts flying out the window.
You press the delete key and begin again. “Ok, let’s try it this way,” you think. And then, there’s that editor again, saying, “Now that just sounds silly. And you misspelled that word – do you really mean ‘effect’ or ‘affect’?”
You stop again, mid-sentence, and grab your dictionary. Now, do you understand why that know-it-all editor shouldn’t be around when you’re still in the drafting stages?
When you review and revise at the same time that you’re actually writing, you slow yourself down. You distract your thoughts. You block the creative flow.
Instead, while you’re writing, you should withhold all judgment on your writing. Don’t worry about using the right words – for now. Don’t worry about spelling or grammar, or how your sentences flow – yet.
That Mind Map Thing Again
If you made a mind map to plan your content, your thoughts will be pretty organized to begin with. And you’ll have a structure to start with, unlike if you began with a blank sheet of paper.
The point of writing in white heat is to simply get all the related thoughts out of your brain and onto your paper, or computer file, whichever applies.
But don’t stop there. Remember, the second part of today’s tip is to “edit in cold blood.”
Now Attack Your Writing
When revising your work, be heart less. Don’t get emotionally attached to that title you feel is just perfect. Or to that metaphor you find so clever, but is actually intelligible only to you.
Editing is the time to be ruthless with your spelling, punctuation marks and grammar. That’s the right time to be extra critical of how clearly you’re communicating.
Cut out unnecessary words. Weed out sentences that don’t serve any purpose other than to increase your word count.
Move sentences – even entire paragraphs – this way and that until your thoughts flow coherently. And make sure each word says what you mean. If it doesn’t, find the one that does.
In summary, write with a blind passion. Edit with dispassionate, wide-open eyes.
Try it next time you write any piece of content, even if it’s your next email. Just shush your inner editor for a few minutes and let your voice come through. Then polish the piece until it’s a gleaming gem.
Let me know how it goes by posting a comment below.
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Great advice!
I definitely will use it. I often find myself not even finishing articles because I can’t find just the right wording or I get hung up on the perfect placement of a comma or period. I spend so much time trying to figure it out that I lose focus and forget what I was trying to say in the first place!
Thanks!
@Lisa Thomson – Yes! Our inner editor is much too harsh. She needs to shut up until we’re done with our draft.
Alexis I am laughing so hard at myself. This post is ‘me to a tee!’ Okay, with the next post I write I am going ATTEMPT to put away 40 plus years of conditioning and put your advice to work.
I’ve got to say, it drives me NUTS that I take so long with a post even though I love the editing. Now I know that I don’t have to do it as I go, I feel a weight off my shoulders.
Thankyou soooo very much.
@Chrstine Holroyd – Give it a try, you’ll like it! Let us know how it goes.
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