Don’t be Paralyzed by High Writing Standards!

Is your writing flow interrupted by the captious critic within you?  Does he force you to edit your writing as you go?  Perhaps, you have set the standard too high, too soon. 

Guess what? You’re not alone.  I, for example, have to consciously force myself to work through a first draft without editing the piece.  It's hell, but when I don’t, my creativity wanes, mired by the excessive weight of high standards.  Every word I jot down appears amateurish, in need of fine tuning.  So like any good writer, I edit and edit, until sentences transform into savage serpents that stifle my creative breath.  Then.  Paralyzed. 

How to cope with the inner critic can be tricky but manageable.  Below are several techniques that can help you avoid paralysis set by high standards.

1.      Don’t set the bar so high.  Keep the inner critic at bay by focusing on getting the story on paper.  Remind yourself that editing is important but not till the first draft is complete.  Whether you’re a seat-of-your-pants or outline writer, you need to suppress editing for when it is needed.

2.      Free write.  Set aside at least five minutes a day to write whatever comes to mind without rewriting.  This exercise will definitely help you control the inner critic.

3.      Don’t be afraid of failure.  You may never be the next Stephen King, but that’s all right.  You can still make a living writing, just like many other published authors.

Demanding a high standard of prose is acceptable as long as it doesn't impede your writing efforts, especially while writing a first draft.  Let the story flow out of you first.  Then, work on polishing it up, for as long as it takes.  Just remember someday you’ll have to set it free.