Editing-phobia and how to overcome it

Note: This advice is only my opinion.

Staring at a blank piece of paper, digital or physical, can be one of the most daunting aspects of writing. But staring at a document full of words you know you need to edit can be even worse.

When I’ve finished a first draft, I find it tempting to say: Look at all the work I’ve put in. I’ll give it a proofread for spelling mistakes, and then it’ll be done! But the more experienced I’ve become, the more I realise this is just me ignoring arguably the most important part of writing: Serious editing.

It helps to think of it this way. When you’re trying a new recipe, how often do you get it right the first time? Probably not very often. Most likely, you realise you cooked it for five minutes longer than it needed, or the potato slices were too thin, or you should have gone heavier on the seasoning. Writing is the same. Maybe you started the story too ‘early’, or perhaps you went on a tangent, and now there are a few paragraphs that need weeding out. You’ve probably heard of the phrase: ‘kill your darlings’, but here are some extra tips for the undesirable task of editing.

1. Get a feel for editing poetry.

Start on a smaller piece of writing. It could even be a short paragraph from a longer work. I recommend poetry because editing poetry gave me a new perspective on writing. Working with a shorter poem (of anywhere between 50 and 100 words) did not feel anywhere near as daunting as preparing to edit a 2000-word essay. Additionally, poetry is frequently freeform and highly personal. You don’t have to worry about someone else reading it if you don’t want to. It doesn’t even have to make sense! Just muck around with the words until they come together in a way you like. This can show you that you’re capable of editing and that it is worthwhile.

2. In saying that, don’t be afraid of a second opinion.

If you’re struggling to know where to start editing your writing, getting someone else to read it and give you feedback can be extremely helpful. They might see something you overlooked and be able to point you in the right direction. If you’re worried about being judged, remember that everybody’s writing goes through an awkward teenage phase where it hasn’t quite figured out how to get to where it wants to be.

3. Try making a copy which you can edit without losing the original.

If you’re worried about making a mess of your hard-earned draft by deleting sentences and adding bits in, you can work on a copy instead. This allows you to go back to the original if you desperately miss a particular phrase or your experiment went horribly wrong. It’s unlikely you will ruin your writing, but if having a copy gives you the peace of mind to go ahead and make changes, you have nothing to lose.

4. Listen to your subconscious.

When you read over your work and you find yourself wrinkling your nose at a particular part, but you can’t figure out why, don’t ignore it. The sentence may sound fine, but if you know deep down it’s not quite what you wanted, try not to settle for less. With a little imagination and perseverance, you can usually find a solution that suits your thesis or the tone better.

5. Think about the bigger picture.

When we get attached to our writing, it feels harsh to start chopping bits out. I know I tend to get attached to my writing ‘on-ramps’ (as one of my best university professors put it) as opposed to the writing motorway. The ‘on-ramps’ are the sentences you write while you’re still thinking about and developing your idea. Writing them helps your brain to produce better ideas; the motorway. Often, you find your argument or your plot evolves as you start writing, meaning your ending doesn’t link up to the beginning. Depending on the situation, you can either rewrite the beginning, or cut it out and start the story later. It can help you to let go of your ‘on-ramps’ by understanding that they were necessary for your writing process, just not for your final story. They served a purpose, and cutting them out doesn’t mean they were unnecessary or wasted.

Editing takes patience and practise, and I don’t pretend to have mastered it. But the more I lean into it, the more I realise that I can achieve greater satisfaction in my writing. So, are you prepared to get your fingers dirty?