Welcome to Tuesday Tips - a weekly blog post for busy writers!
Today we are talking about one of the wisest things you can do as a writer. Walk away from your work. This is not to say you should quit writing, rather that you should put a piece of writing away before completing it.
How can the author write better by leaving their writing alone?
First – It’s easy to miss mistakes when the words are fresh in your mind. Proofreading your work after leaving it for a time will be like reading it with new eyes. You might catch some errors you previously overlooked.
Second – Beyond detecting mistakes, the opportunity to ruminate on a piece of writing may afford you fresh ideas to expound upon. Perhaps the first draft needs more or less information. A few hours, or even days, will give you the time to gather more material if needed.
Third – Practicing patience will give you a chance to determine where that piece of writing best fits. Is it part of a larger work or might it stand alone? Should you post it online making it readily available for fans and critics or save it for opportune timing?
Lastly - Walking away will give you some perspective. Does this piece of writing read the way you wish? Can you make it better, or is it absolutely fabulous the way it is?
What do you think about this #tuesdaytip? Was it helpful? Feel free to leave a comment, and as always ...
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