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Our final common writing myth (though there is no shortage of such myths, we are limited by space): the slower you write, the more time you spend with each and every word, the better your writing will be.
The catch to this one is simple: there's a time and place for writing, and there's a time and place for editing.
When you mix the two activities (which are very different in their requirements and purpose), you rarely do either one justice. If anything will suffer, it will be your writing. Because suddenly you'll be under the constraints of the editor sitting on your shoulder. You'll be fretting over the words while losing perspective on the more important elements of the story. Does the scene work' Are your characters being true to their nature' Does this move the story forward'
The truth is this: your writing will ALWAYS be better when you write in the moment. Remember when you were a child' When you could spend hours building a sand castle or playing catch or flying a kite' Those were moments when nothing else in the world existed because you were completely absorbed in the activity. Write with that same captivation, as if each scene were unfolding right before your eyes, and you'll find your writing will not only be vivid and powerful, it will flow faster than you ever imagined possible.
Writing does not have to be a torturous, exacting process.
Allow yourself to have fun with it, and you'll be a better writer for the effort.
Copyright 2003. All rights reserved. David B. Silva is a professional writer, editor and publisher. For a FREE mini-course on the best way to make writing that novel faster and easier, Click Here ==> easyway@thesuccessfulwriter.com'subject=TRAArticle" target=new>mailto:easyway@thesuccessfulwriter.com'subject=TRAArticle
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