Comments on: Do You Make This Unforgivable Writing Mistake?

By: The Best Way to Measure Your Growth as a Writer

The Best Way to Measure Your Growth as a Writer — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:14:54 +0000

[...] But, after a few days, I softened. Perhaps the editor did make some good observations on my story—things that could be cleaned up a bit. As time went on, and as I abandoned that manuscript for newer, better ideas, I started to realize I’d been far too hasty in my self-approval. [...]

By: suzannah

suzannah — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:55:16 +0000

Reading your work out loud is a great way to catch mistakes and inconsistencies. It’s just so easy to gloss over problems if you don’t take time away from it. Thanks!

By: Desolie (writers need editors)

Desolie (writers need editors) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:20:35 +0000

I love it when I find others saying the same thing I do!
In the writing strategy that I present, I call it ‘Incubate’ – that time when you make sure you’re not thinking about your writing; that time when your brain can work on it without your interference.
And yes, I’ve been guilty of not listening to myself (as I’ll do with this comment), but I’ve learnt to read short pieces like this out loud so that I can hear if I have written what I meant to write.

By: The #1 Reason You’ll Never Finish Writing Your Novel

The #1 Reason You’ll Never Finish Writing Your Novel — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:28:08 +0000

[...] Don’t self-edit. Don’t worry about making minor technical errors, or spend time fixing them. That’s what revision and proofreading are for. Besides, you’re more likely to notice these mistakes once you’ve given your first draft some room to breathe. [...]

By: Tweets that mention Do You Make This Unforgivable Writing Mistake? -- Topsy.com

Tweets that mention Do You Make This Unforgivable Writing Mistake? -- Topsy.com — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:10:38 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jennifer Blanchard, mmccubb, Renee Caldwell, Brigitte Mountain, nita sellya and others. nita sellya said: Do You Make This Unforgivable Writing Mistake? – http://tinyurl.com/yeljsa9 (via @writeitsideways) [...]

By: suzannah

suzannah — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 01:25:01 +0000

Rebecca,

Yes, we can’t obsess over our work to the point where it’s never finished, but we do need to step away long enough to see the good and bad points about anything we’ve written. Thanks!

By: Rebecca MacDonald

Rebecca MacDonald — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:38:52 +0000

Ah, this one hit home! For me the trick is about finding that point somewhere between procrastination and perfectionism. Should I endlessly obsess over this piece or hit the Publish button/just send it out? I think you've hit on the answer: walk away, let it breathe for a bit, and come back to it with fresh eyes. Then fix it and send it out! .-= Read Rebecca MacDonald´s last article ..Would You Volunteer for a Severance Package? =-.

By: suzannah

suzannah — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:15:02 +0000

Flora,

I feel your pain I usually get my husband to proofread for me if he’s around, because it’s so easy to miss mistakes when you’re in a rush to get a post up. I don’t like letting mistakes through either, because once the post goes out in my feedreader, it can’t be changed. Oh well, just something we all have to put up with, I guess!