A common problem with writers, surprisingly, is not whether they’re too picky, but whether they’re picky enough.
We’ve all got standards, some higher than others. We all have a certain point to pass before we can conclude that we’re finished. But how do you know whether or not your point is correctly placed?
So here’s a rule of the thumb: If you haven’t started over on everything in your story at least once, it’s not good enough.
Seriously, writers throw away finished novels and start over from scratch.
It’s important that you know when your writing sucks and when it doesn’t. In truth, if you started throwing away everything that you write and starting over at least three times, you wouldn’t be half as bad as the best.
You’re a good writer, but don’t let yourself fall into the amateur crowd. If you think it’s perfect and others think it sucks, don’t let people see it. It’s yours.
The best programmers program for themselves first, the crowd later. The best email software is the one that was created by someone to be used, not to be sold.
If you made a software so you could use it, not others, only you, then you know it’s the best.
Same goes for writing. If you write for yourselves and ignore what everyone thinks, then you’ll automatically be the best.
Yes, you can give in to the crowd and stretch away here and there, but ultimately, it doesn’t matter what others think as long as you think it’s great.
And that’s the only time others will think it’s great, too.
So here’s your homework:
Rewrite the same story 3 times, then take out the strengths and weaknesses from each and combine them to make the ultimate story.
Already looking better. Huh? Here’s another idea. Take that story and rewrite it 3 times.
What do you think? Not as good as the original? It shouldn’t be. But even these little stories have strengths that your masterpiece doesn’t.
Feel free to chop off good pieces and revise again and again.
Only once you’ve written 10 stories and can’t find a single strength that your story needs do you know that your story is 100% complete.
