It's Okay to Write Fast

I procrastinate a lot, but when I do write, I can say, with confidence, that I am a pretty speedy writer. When I get myself locked into the flow, the words tend to spill out at once, sometimes out of order, and I need to pause to get back to where I was. Sometimes these bad habits have resulted in me racing to the ending which can ruin the pacing. I begin missing details that I marked as important, a character might not get introduced where I initially planned, and the most cardinal sin of all, the ending becomes rushed.

Now I have titled this way because I wanted to get across to you that there is no shame in writing fast. The most prolific of authors got that way by working at a quicker pace and rewriting only when the editor dictates. I seldom do a second draft, but I take every change recommended by my editor seriously. Now, this may come across as hypocritical considering that I've decided to rework my entire trilogy, but the joke is on me, as it were. After rereading my work a few times, it was apparent that I had left out so many important details I had planned, so the need for a rework has become necessary.

Think of this short post as a warning to those who have a penchant for writing fast. If you do, consider extensive plotting. Don't leave out a single detail. Plan out everything from the smell, taste, feeling, and sight. Most importantly, listen to the advice of your editor, even if it is merely a grammatical once over. The correct word or proper phrase can change the entire experience for the reader.

Do you have a manuscript ready to go? Send my good friend and editor, Melissa Ringsted an email today. She's done all my past work and will continue to work with her in the future.

thereforyou.melissa@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/thereforyouediting