The infernal internal editor is the shoulder devil common to all writers. You sit down to write a simple paragraph of description, a few lines of dialogue, a scene transition—and before your finger has even hit the first period key, your inner editor is screaming in your ear.
It’s not good enough! Nobody talks that way! You really think any self-respecting reader is going to wade through a description like that? This is insanely boring: pardon me if I start to snore.
Does Your Inner Editor Make You Feel This Bad?
Nobody likes a tongue-lashing, even from invisible, imaginary anti-muses. So when Mr. Inner Editor starts warming up, what do you do? You tense. Your fingers freeze in crooked positions above the keyboard. You start chewing your lips, your eyes flicking back across the meager handful of words you were able to squeeze out before Mr. Editor started his harangue.
Your heart clutches a little and your breath sticks halfway up your throat, as you realize he’s right. Mr. Editor is right. This paragraph does stink. This dialogue is hokey. This description is too long. No wonder he’s snoring!
From there it’s an easy leap to convincing yourself that since your description, dialogue, and scene transitions stink, then, naturally, you must stink as a writer. Doubts assail you about your ability to write anything that will please your inner editor. Doubt avalanches into fear—and you’re crippled by panic.
You Can’t Beat Your Inner Editor–So Join Him
It doesn’t have to be this way. We’ve transformed the inner editor into a monster of epic proportions, but only because we haven’t learned to utilize him. Your editor’s not a fiend; he’s a friend. In fact, he’s the best friend—and the best tool—a writer can have.
But only if you embrace him.
A writer’s confidence comes and goes. One minute you’re brilliant, the next you’re a hack. But confidence isn’t what makes a writer. (If it was, we’d all be sunk.) What transforms a random someone-typing-a-story into an author is sheer determination.
You know your writing will always have room for improvement. But don’t take that as a putdown. Take it as a challenge!
How Use Your Inner Editor Instead of Letting It Abuse You
Embrace Mr. Editor, not as a cruel taskmaster who will never be satisfied, but as a tough-love coach who refuses to let you settle for less than you’re capable of.
The trick to embracing the inner editor is to turn his diatribes into lessons for improvement. I’m thankful for my inner editor. I’m pleased he’s usually right. I appreciate that I have this voice in my head telling me how to be better, never letting me settle for status quo.
Is it tough sometimes? Do I occasionally hate him? Does he ever make me want to stomp away from the keyboard with the certainty that quitting now would be far easier? You betcha.
But I don’t quit, and I don’t let myself hate him for long. I love my infernal internal editor for the simple reason that he makes me better. And, if you learn to embrace him, then so will yours!
Wordplayers, tell me your opinion! How do you handle criticism from your inner editor? Tell me in the comments!
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