Over Editing

Do you struggle with over-editing?

Do you write to publish? Do you have problems with over-editing? I do, and it's not easy to try to break that habit. This is what a lot of people call perfectionism and I have always been the type of person who, if I think something doesn't sound good after I write it, I find a different way to write.

People always tell me that when you think you have something written the proper way, just publish it. However, I am the type of person who, if I read it and don't like it after I write it, I'm going to rewrite it. At the current moment, I am working on my fifth rewrite of a book. I have always had problems with showing more than telling.

Once I get done with this edit and rewrite, I am most likely going to just leave it. I will find somebody who can edit it themselves and see what I need to fix if anything. Sometimes you just have to leave it be even if you think it's not perfect. I know the struggle of perfectionism. It's not fun to deal with, nor is it easy to deal with.

So, what I'm trying to say is, once you have something written that you think is OK then have somebody else read it. Don't do what I'm doing and going through multiple rewrites just because I don't like it. The struggle is definitely real when you want to keep rewriting. I know for a fact that once I get done with this rewrite, I am done, and I will have others look at it. This will hopefully help me get the book published so that I can make some sales out of it.

All of this just to say trust your gut. Do not do a lot of over editing like I'm doing. It can take a toll on your body mentally and physically kind of. I know that other people may like what I wrote, but I don't so I'm rewriting everything again. So, tell me in the comments below are you an over editor? Do you feel like nothing is right in your writing? Trust your gut and do what is best for your writing and for you but do not spend too much time on editing. Let others help you with the edits.