I can remember when I used to write in my juvenile years. I felt weird reading my own writing. It felt funny reading my own stuff again.
Editing is good. It makes our writing better. But editing too much can make it bad. It can take away our special way of writing and make it sound like a robot.
Don’t edit too much” may sound like an appealing philosophy, especially for those eager to share their ideas quickly. However, it’s essential to recognize the balance between editing and preserving the authenticity of your writing.
I can see The Idea of editing your work as a writer is not good. This is something people are most of the time disagreeing with, Most of the people will say this is not right. This is the opposite of good writing. Then I would say in the beginning of trying to write anything new, you haven’t written a lot about that. So normally you don’t have any pattern recognition. That’s why I said In the beginning, editing is a waste of time. Because,you don’t know what to edit.
I learned this the hard way. I kept changing my writing so much that it didn’t sound like me anymore. It lost its personality and felt boring. People missed the natural flow and honesty that made them like it in the first place.
Honestly, I don’t like to read my own writing once it’s done. I get too picky and doubt every word. That’s why I have to be careful with editing.
Here are some tips to avoid editing too much:
1. Set a Limit: Decide how many times you’ll check your writing. Stick to it. I think 3 times is enough. I like this number 3 for the Recheck attempts. You can also use tools to help, but don’t rely on them too much.
2. Take Breaks: Step away from your writing for a bit. Look at it with fresh eyes later. It helps you see mistakes without stressing too much.
3. Be Nice to Yourself : Your first draft is your voice. Don’t change it too much. Be nice to yourself during editing. Mistakes are normal and help us learn.
4. Read Out Loud: This helps you hear how your writing sounds. It catches mistakes and makes it flow better.
5. Hit Publish: Sometimes, you just have to share your work. Use social media to get quick feedback. People like to be part of a group. But don’t keep it a secret at the start. Share it openly.
Remember, your writing should still sound like you after editing. Your readers want to hear from you, not a robot. So, edit carefully and keep your touch.
Lastly, Be Brave to share your work with friends or family for advice. They can help make it better without changing who you are.Don’t think too much about Readers, did they find it interesting? Did they find it entertaining? Just Hit on the Publish Button. By the time, you will learn the psyche of writing when you will do it consistently.