Creative Writing Tip: DON’T go crazy editing one paragraph (or chunk of text)

Today’s piece of advice for writing a novel is one I learned the hard way. While editing, I am guilty as all get out of violating this nugget of wisdom time and again. Even after I’ve learned the value of it from experience, I still go against the rule way more than I should. But the times I do realize what I’m doing and check myself, things go much smoother when I edit.

So, what’s the tip?

DON’T continuously edit one paragraph or chunk of paragraphs for too long in one sitting.

What constitutes too long? It will vary a bit from person to person, but generally you’ll know you’re reaching that point:

• If you find yourself having to reread the first sentences of the paragraph time and time again because you can’t keep them straight and they’re jumbling together
• If you’re going back to reread the paragraph after every minor change, then making more minor changes, and then going to the beginning again, only to repeat the process ad nauseam
• If you can’t decide whether or not the paragraph is a gem or utter slough because the cases for both are equally convincing
• If the computer screen or page is starting to physically blur before your eyes

OOH blur. Look at the pretty colors!!!!

This has totally happened to me more times than I can count. And it’s such a waste of my time! I get nothing accomplished in sessions when I get stuck on one section like that. All I do is frustrate myself and start to doubt what the heck I’m doing.

If you find this happening to you, follow these instructions.

1. Step away.
2. Seriously. STEP AWAY.
3. Ask yourself: is this section bugging me because really, it just doesn’t need to be here? Can I  cut it? Cut a part of it? (Sometimes that’s proven my best solution.)
4. If YES, then cut.
5. If NO, then wait at least twenty minutes or half an hour. Do something else productive. Then and only then return to the WIP.

I remember distinctly wasting about half an hour dealing with two paragraphs because I just didn’t like how they were worded. I debated changing things. Then I changed them. Then I decided I needed to change them back. I was just being picky. It was a late night editing session, which is rare for me. I was tired. I finally saved the doc and decided to return to it the next morning.

THE NEXT MORNING

Refreshed, I opened the doc. I went to the problem paragraphs. I read them and realized they were fine and what the heck had I been thinking the night before causing myself anxiety over this non-issue? Seriously.

So please, do yourself a favor and give it a rest when you find yourself doing what I was doing. Your time management skills and your mental health will thank you!  🙂