Four Tips to Distract Your Internal Editor
by Edie Melson
@EdieMelson
I’ve spoken with a lot of writers who have trouble disconnecting
their INTERNAL EDITOR when they're working on an early
draft of a manuscript.
This overly helpful person lives inside most of us and comes in handy when we’re putting the finishing touches on our manuscript. But when we’re in the midst of a creative surge, that same person can short circuit our progress.
Today's post will give you the tips you need to turn off your
internal editor.
First you should know there’s a scientific reason for that
roadblock. The creative act of writing your first draft stems from the right
side—or creative side—of the brain. Later in the process, when polishing
begins, the left side takes over. Here are some of the characteristics of each
side.
Right Brain
- Visual in process, focusing more on patterns and
images.
- Generally intuitive, led by feelings.
- Is the epitome of multi-tasking, able to process ideas simultaneously.
- Progresses from the big picture to the details.
- Lacks organization, utilizes free association.
Left Brain
- More verbal, needs to find specific words to express
ideas.
- Analytical, led by logic.
- Takes things step by step, one idea at a time.
- Organizes details first before moving to the big
picture.
- Very organized, utilizing lists and detailed plans.
Mixing up
the process—trying to use both sides of the brain at the same time—can lead to
a tangled mess and a major roadblock. All of this information is good to know,
but what if our left-brained, Internal Editor won’t go away? How do we make her
be quiet?
Unfortunately,
there isn’t one way that works for everyone, but here are some tips that should
help.
Tips
1. Don’t give in to temptation. Our
Internal Editor gets stronger the more frequently we give in to her demands. If
she thinks you need a certain word before you can finish that sentence, stay
strong. Type XXX and go on. Later, during the rewriting process, you’ll have
plenty of time to find the right word. This goes for anything that demands you
slow the creative process. At this point in your manuscript speed is your best
friend.
2. Set a daily and weekly word count goal. This can often sidetrack the Internal
Editor because of her need to meet a goal. Sometimes, in her drive to succeed, she can even become an ally.
3. Make lists in a separate notebook. Use your computer for the story, but
if the need for details overshadows the creative urge, make a quick note in a
notebook. Don’t let yourself get bogged down, but let the free association part
of your right brain give you ideas to explore later with your more logical left
side.
4. Don’t give in to fear. Many times our
Internal Editor is driven by fear. Fear that this draft isn’t good, won’t work, or just doesn’t make sense. Remind yourself that this version isn’t written in
stone. Sometimes just giving ourselves permission to write what Anne Lamott
calls the sh*%&# first draft is all we need to derail our Internal
Editor.
All of these can help, but I’d like to know what tricks you use to keep that INNER EDITOR quiet.
(Photos courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net, Ambro, and Stuart Miles.)
TWEETABLE
Find your voice, live your story…is
the foundation of Edie Melson’s message, no matter if she’s writing for
fiction readers, parents, or writers. As an author, blogger, and speaker she’s
encouraged and challenged audiences across the country and around the
world. Her numerous books reflect her passion to help others
develop the strength of their God-given gifts and apply them to their lives.
She’s a leading professional
within the publishing industry and travels to numerous conferences as a popular
keynote, writing instructor and mentor. Her blog for writers, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands each month and is a
Writer’s Digest Top 101 Websites for Writers. She’s the Director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, the Mountainside Marketing Conference and Soul Care, as well as Vice President of the Advanced Writers and Speakers
Association and the Social Media Director for Southern Writers Magazine. In addition, she's a regular
columnist for Just18Summers.com, PuttingOnTheNew.com and http://www.soulfulink.com. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
As an ex-engineer, I'm totally left brain. It's almost painful to move on to a new paragraph unless I've got the current one in the best shape. I fight that every day. I've tried the word-count tip but that didn't work. My perfectionism outweighs my need to meet a goal. I'm still looking for something that works and I'm getting there!
ReplyDeleteSherry, that’s a tough place to be. I do think practice can help and it sounds like you’re on the right track! Blessings, E
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