This is How Overthinking Ruins Your Writing

Because overthinking changes your voice.

Photo by Gabrielle Wright on Unsplash

Writers trying too hard to fix their writing sometimes ruin it.

Once, I had a simple, clear draft. I wanted to make it perfect in every aspect. For this, I rewrite every line.

So I changed words and tone. But doing this, all the lines started to feel off, losing clarity.

That’s what overthinking does.

It doesn’t always improve your writing. It usually starts in a way.

You sit down with an idea for your writing.

It is not perfect. It feels real enough to write about.

You begin writing.

The first few lines of your writing come out naturally.

Then you reread them. Now they feel plain.

Not clear enough. Not interesting enough.

So you start adjusting them.

Once you start adjusting your writing, it is hard to stop.

You are trying to do too much at once with your writing.

The real issue is this:

You’re writing and judging at the same time.