Summary

The author received valuable writing advice from an unexpected source, his dentist, which can be paraphrased as "only edit the content you intend to publish."

Abstract

In an unexpected turn, the author's dentist provided insightful writing advice during a routine dental appointment. The dentist's adage, "Only brush the teeth you want to keep," was metaphorically transformed by the author into a writing mantra: "Only edit the pages that you want to publish." This advice underscores the importance of diligent editing to ensure quality and reader satisfaction. The author emphasizes that while perfection is unattainable, striving for excellence through meticulous proofreading is crucial for a writer's success. The article encourages writers to take ownership of their work's quality and to be thorough in their editing process, much like the meticulous care a dentist gives to each tooth.

Opinions

The author values the dentist's wisdom and its applicability to writing.
Quality editing is seen as non-negotiable for publishing work that resonates with readers.
The author suggests that a lack of proper editing can lead to loss of readership.
Editing is likened to a "die-hard" commitment, indicating the level of dedication required.
The article implies that even with professional editing, some errors are inevitable, but this should not deter from the pursuit of excellence.
The author believes that the responsibility for the quality of writing lies with the writer themselves.

My Dentist Gave Me the Best Writing Advice Ever

A surprising source of writerly wisdom

My dentist gave me the best writing advice ever—and he didn’t even know it.

I love my dentist. He’s one of those small-town dentists with good bed-side manner. You know, the kind you can almost imagine making house calls to lonely widows, sick kids, or snowed in elderly couples.

In the middle of one of my appointments, he dropped a wisdom bomb on me.

My jaw might have dropped but my mouth was already open. He had some kind of medical torture device jammed in there, rooting around for cavities.

Like most dentists of his generation, he entertained me with jokes and stories while he worked.

I can’t prove it, but I think there might be an underground black market for dentists to bet on how often they can get patients to laugh-gag with a mouth full of dental foam.

But I digress.

He was regaling me with stories of dental school.

All of the sudden, in the middle of his story, he delivered the advice.

The Writing Advice

He said, “Only brush the teeth you want to keep.”

On the surface, it doesn’t sound very much like life-changing writing advice. I can’t dispute that fact.

However, my mind immediately followed this chain of thoughts:

I want all my teeth!
Oh, that’s the point
How clever!
Wait, I can apply that to writing…

My writer-mind translated his words into advice that has stayed with me for years. I use it for every story, article, and book that I write.

Once again, he said: Only brush the teeth that you want to keep.

My translation for writers: Only edit the pages that you want to publish.

Why This Is the Best Writing Advice

I want ALL of the pages I write to be published. You probably do, too.

And that’s the point.

Yes, this well-known quote is true:

“You can’t edit a blank page."—Jodi Picoult

When You Don’t Know What to Write

A 4-step process to find your inspiration

writingcooperative.com

But, you can’t publish an unedited page, either.

Actually, you can, but you shouldn’t.

If you do, your readers will notice. For some, they will never read your work again. That’s harsh, but it’s the truth.

If you consistently push out articles, books, or stories with endless typos, then even your die-hard fans will abandon you. Yes, the link in that last sentence takes you to the IMDB page for the movie, Die Hard, because… it’s awesome.

It’s also a cultural illustration of the advice my dentist gave me. To succeed as a writer, you must edit with “die-hard” grit. You must be willing to walk barefoot over broken glass to save your story.

My dentist’s advice is the best because it reminds us of the importance of proofreading our work.

It’s simple. And that’s why it is so effective.

“Only edit the pages that you want to publish.” — Christopher Kokoski

There Is No Perfection

If you rush to publish, you may regret it.

If you don’t read your writing out loud, give it to a trusted beta reader, or run it through editing software like Grammarly, you might lose a reader, a contract, or some other kind of opportunity.

You have so many choices for proofreading your own work.

However, there is no perfection. I don’t know about you, but I find mistakes in published bestsellers all the time. If a professional team of editors still screws up, so will we.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about excellence.

Final Thoughts

Only edit the pages you want to publish.

That’s the best writing advice my dentist ever gave me. After all this time, it still resonates with me. It reminds me that I have a choice to make. It reminds me that the quality of my writing is up to me.

And, you know what? It’s up to you, too.

Thanks for reading! You are awesome! 😁