My internal editor, that is.
No matter what I write, be it a blog entry, an article or short story, even an email to a friend, she hovers over my shoulder and whispers, "That’s terrible! Reword that. You used "I" too many times in that sentence. Repetitive statement in this paragraph. It’s ‘your’ not ‘you’re.’"
With spending so much time editing lately, I can’t shove her away and just write.
I love the written word primarily because I can always edit it later. Writing crap is better than writing nothing.
Editing itself isn’t the problem, it’s the editing as I write. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve rewritten a single sentence in this entry alone (this sentence has been reworded three times — make that four. Five).
How do I manage to write anything with her breathing down my neck? The least she could do is consume less onions and garlic.
The question is, do I save or waste time by editing as I go?
No idea, and I’d like to find out someday. Once my internal editor takes a long nap or vacation to a far, far away place with no phones or email, that is.
Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening any time soon.
And no comments about my internal editor not knowing a thing about writing by critiquing this entry (kidding)!
Andra's Blog 
I actually bought several books by an author who publishes many books a year. According to her, the ability to learn to self-edit as you write will eventually speed up your ability to produce “finished” manuscripts faster.
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Oops, you blew it. I was gonna ask if it shouldn’t be fewer onions instead of less? But blogs are informal, I guess less is okay. Don’t you love the English language? 😉
I think you might take more time trying to force yourself to change your habit than to do what comes naturally, but I can’t be sure. *shrug*
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Funny. I know what you mean! I have a hard time turning off my inner critic when I read fiction, too, which makes it hard to just sit and read for enjoyment.
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Misty: I hope so. Time will tell (pun intended).
Loraine: I told you not to critique my inner critiquer! Kidding. Thanks for the giggle.
Jessica: Writing and editing has ruined me as a reader as well.
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