Thank God Alex Cavanaugh's Insecure Writers Support Group is here. Hopefully with this post, I'll vanquish some of my writer demons. This past month I had so much to be insecure about, I don't know where to start. Between work and family obligations, I had little time to write. And then there's the blogging part, which, frankly, I'm incredibly burnt out. It's all about maintaining balance in our everyday lives and sometimes when I have hoards of to-dos on your list that I attempt too much and accomplish little. In the case of my writing, I've spent a good portion of my time--when I had it--writing a little, but mostly...editing. I know editing is a crucial part of writing, but truthfully I struggle with it. Does it ever end? Sometimes I obsess over words, sentences, scenes, chapters, and plots so much I want to...
And then just when I finish editing/revising a chapter, act or even a novel, a sort of peace and tranquility burgeons within. Everything is right in my universe, and I am calm and ready to forge ahead.
Of course, less than 24 hours later, I'm back at square one--stuck in editing hell, double-checking my edits, doubting my revisions and creating new ideas to add to the plot. WTF? Can someone prescribe me some good drugs for my sick inclination towards OCD writing, cuz right now....I think I'm going nucking futs!
I feel better now. Do any of you suffer from this type of relentless editing like it's never-ending. Do you have any advice? Tricks? After you edit, do you have another person reedit your work or do you rely solely on your critique partner. Does it ever end?
Mina B.
