That Story You Just Wrote Sucks…and That’s Okay

Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

1144

Abstract

; you don’t have to get it completely right on the first try.</p><figure id="a970"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*Zd1tg3fvhL1U0HVm"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@andrewjoegeorge?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Andrew George</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="1180">My dirty little secret is, that I have been notoriously a single draft writer for the better part of my writing life. The notable exception to this rule was, when I wrote papers for school, but even then I would write a single draft and go back later to edit for grammar and mechanics.</p><p id="73b3">I rarely embraced the revision process in the way I teach my students. I tell them to literally “re-envisioning” their original work, approaching it from an entirely different angle. Whether it’s due to laziness or the pursuit of the perfect writing session, I have missed countless opportunities because I simply haven’t had the will or motivation to go back and challenge myself to improve upon my work before publishing i

Options

t online.</p><p id="8239">The few times I have gone back and really re-imagined one of my pieces, it has usually been my fictional pieces, mainly my novel. There hasn’t been a time where the end result wasn’t better than the original piece. Still, there is one caveat; I let a decent amount of time pass before I try and revise a piece. Ironically, the draft for this particular article has been sitting in my draft box for well over a year before I decided to dust it off and finish it.</p><h2 id="b173">Time for a pop quiz</h2><p id="30b4">Those of you have followed or read any of my work for any length of time probably know I like to occasionally throw out a challenge to my readers. At present, I have 12 drafts in my inbox, not including this one. My challenge for today is to go through your drafts and ween it down to 5 or 6. That’s it. Decide what you will actually work on or completely rearrange a piece to an entirely new audience or give it a new slant. Report back in the comments, preferably after a week or so to let us know how it’s been going for you. I, for one, am anxious to hear what you came up with.</p></article></body>

Why refining your editing process can be the next frontier.

There is one thing I believe all writers (hell, all artists for that matter) have in common: we are all our own worst critics.

Take me for instance. I’m sitting on the Red Line train in route to the 95th street bus terminal as I write this and only moments ago I read something I wrote yesterday and realized how terrible it really was.

Don’t get me wrong. I mean, at the time I wrote it I didn’t feel that way. In fact, if you asked me then I would have told you I was onto something and maybe I was. Problem is in its current iteration it simply doesn’t move the needle for me. But then that’s just it; you don’t have to get it completely right on the first try.

My dirty little secret is, that I have been notoriously a single draft writer for the better part of my writing life. The notable exception to this rule was, when I wrote papers for school, but even then I would write a single draft and go back later to edit for grammar and mechanics.

I rarely embraced the revision process in the way I teach my students. I tell them to literally “re-envisioning” their original work, approaching it from an entirely different angle. Whether it’s due to laziness or the pursuit of the perfect writing session, I have missed countless opportunities because I simply haven’t had the will or motivation to go back and challenge myself to improve upon my work before publishing it online.

The few times I have gone back and really re-imagined one of my pieces, it has usually been my fictional pieces, mainly my novel. There hasn’t been a time where the end result wasn’t better than the original piece. Still, there is one caveat; I let a decent amount of time pass before I try and revise a piece. Ironically, the draft for this particular article has been sitting in my draft box for well over a year before I decided to dust it off and finish it.

Time for a pop quiz

Those of you have followed or read any of my work for any length of time probably know I like to occasionally throw out a challenge to my readers. At present, I have 12 drafts in my inbox, not including this one. My challenge for today is to go through your drafts and ween it down to 5 or 6. That’s it. Decide what you will actually work on or completely rearrange a piece to an entirely new audience or give it a new slant. Report back in the comments, preferably after a week or so to let us know how it’s been going for you. I, for one, am anxious to hear what you came up with.