One of the toughest things for me as a writer is to keep from editing
while I’m composing. I want to get it just right, and if I change that
word, cross out that part, rearrange these, etc...
But if I do all those things (which I’m struggling with as I write this)
while trying to express what the work needs to express, what happens
to my focus or the passion of the writing?
Give yourself permission to “just write,” let it pour; at this point,
it doesn’t matter if it makes sense or something’s misspelled or
out of order. Use this as an opportunity to go “deeper” or “further”
in your writing.
The Mulberry Bird, by Anne Braff Brodzinsky, is a beautiful book
about a mother bird struggling to care for her baby all alone; when
the baby almost dies in a storm, the mother finally chooses to place
it with a flock of other birds where it will be safe.
I could say the book is well-written, has lovely illustrations, and
portrays reasons a mother might decide on adoption: all true. But
if I let you know that my husband and I adopted our kids, and that
I can’t read the story out loud without crying, we’ve gone to a
much deeper level.
Too much editing while composing can interfere with the heart of
your message. You can tackle the editing later. But first, let it flow.
Cindy
These tips may be geared more toward writers, but we also welcome
submissions from artists, including musicians and photographers.