Sandra Suggests Kicking the Internal Editor to the Curb

Writing is solitary. We are often so much in our own heads that sometimes we can forget we are writing for an audience. That's not always a bad thing.

There are times when, in writing fiction, for example, your characters run away with your story and you feel like your role is to just hit the keys and try to keep up. Unless you're under a tight deadline and your agent or editor is breathing down your neck, I think the worst thing a writer can do at times like these is to stop and let your internal editor step in and begin analyzing what you've written. There is a time for this, but not here. At times like these, my advice is to forget your internal editor and your external audience and enjoy the ride.

Such experiences are freeing and powerful for authors because these are the times when the editor in your head gives up, gets out, and lets you, the writer, take the wheel. It's a great feeling. Like driving on a sunny day along the 101 with the top down, the wind in your hair, no other cars on the road, and no one in the passenger seat fiddling with the radio or telling you they gotta stop and go whiz.

One of my favorite writing quotes is from Stephen King who said (about what, I'm not sure) "No, it's not a very good story - its author was too busy listening to other voices to listen as closely as he should have to the one coming from inside."

Whether you like Mr. King or not, I think you can agree when it comes to writing he knows what he's talking about here. How many authors are guilty of deciding they want (literally) to be the next John Grisham, Karen Kingsbury, Michael Chrichton, Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, Brandilyn Collins, Tom Clancy, Beverly Lewis, or Stephen King for that matter? If that's your mission as an author, good luck to you and let me know how that turns out. It's not that I'm opposed to encouraging authors to believe in their eventual success to the levels of these authors, it's just that if a writer sets out thinking they are going to follow the road these folks took, I think they don't consider one very important thing. That these authors blazed their own trails, followed their own directions, did their own thing and worked hard to develop their own voices along the way. And it's precisely because they did so that they found success.  Commercially successful authors rarely become overnight successes without putting a lot of time behind the wheel.

Back to the point about kicking the editor out, though. The good news is that not only is it fun to write without the editor constantly telling you where to turn, or questioning if you're headed in the right direction, it's important. These are the times when authors typically find their unique voice - and often surprise themselves with their abilities.

Some who experience this kind of writing high say they've been visited by a muse and that it's a near celestial thing; one which cannot be forced. I think that's a big load of hooey. Writing is hard work - not magic. I think writers are destined to reach such zones if they stay after it. Maybe for some it's after a certain length of time at the keyboard, others find they can better access writing freedom at particular times of day. The key, I think, is to not wait for times of inspiration to get to work, but to work until the inspiration comes.

Of course, as Christians who write, we have direct access to one whose Voice we can and should listen to without reservation. I think, though, that there are times when even God himself knows the best thing He can do for his writer-kids is to let us take the wheel, exercise the creativity with which we were trusted, and learn on our own how to do it well.

Comments

[Joyce Magnin]

Thanks, Sandra, I needed that. Looking forward to meeting you in Philly.

[Debra]

I loved what you said about blazing your own trail as an author. I really needed this reminder today. Thanks! :)

Debra

[Anne Lang Bundy]

Oh how gloriously liberating your closing paragraph is! To both have the voice of
Divinity speaking through us and running with the gift Divinity has granted to us is writing at its finest hour. Let the editor follow in our dust.

[Wendy]

Not sure why I'm up at 2:00 a.m. reading blogs, but I am and I'm glad I read this.

I love driving with the windows down! Even more, I love when God blesses me enough to speak to me in any capacity and when He trusts me to have at it when I write.

Going to go sleep now. :D
~ Wendy

[Sharon A Lavy]

I just finished re-reading "Finding your Voice" by Les Edgerton.

You just confirmed what Les preaches. Thanks.

[Rhonda N]

So true, so true. Our writers group has recently stop critiquing the WIP of the newbies. It was driving them crazy and they would go back and try to fix things without moving forward.

[Ashley]

When you first started posting on Chip's blog I thought, Man... she really should start her own blog ... but I love the balance you two bring to this blog. Good team.

[Robbie Iobst]

Sandra, thank you. I so needed to hear these words today.

[Sandra Bishop]

Thanks for the comments, all. Glad to be here contributing to the MacLit blog. Chip's got lots to say, of course, but it's been great to add another approach.

Interesting note, Rhonda, about not critiquing the WIP's of newbies. I think letting them gain momentum is a very good thing. When, though, do you decide it's time to step in with critique?