“Why I Don’t Want My Writer Friends to Read My Bedrock of Creativity—And the Surprising Truth Behind It”
In our fast-paced digital age, have you ever paused to think about the absurdity of feeling guilty for not “liking” a friend’s vacation photo? Or how a mere click can open the floodgates of petty disputes among those we love? With the constant barrage of social media notifications and the pressure to keep up with one another’s lives, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters—like connecting over shared passions and interests instead of leading lives dictated by likes and comments. In this thought-provoking piece, I explore the curious dichotomy of the writer’s life—how we often don’t have time to read all the words we pen, let alone those of our peers. It’s a funny realization, really! So grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let’s dive into the intricacies of editing versus reading, and why it’s okay to be a little reckless in our creative pursuits. If you’re curious to explore this dichotomy further, click here: LEARN MORE.
THE RECKLESS WRITER
To be honest, I don’t have time to read everything I write either
We live in an era of petty conflict. You can get in trouble with family and friends if you don’t click “like” on their vacation pictures quickly enough.
“I posted our photos from the Grand Canyon yesterday, but you didn’t comment on any of them. What’s the matter with you?”
“Uh, maybe the algorithm hid the photos from me?”
“Don’t go blaming it on the algorithm. You don’t even know what that is!”
“My battery was dead?”
“That’s not true because I’ve been watching you sit there with your nose in the phone for the last two hours!”
You get the point.
Writers are notoriously sensitive people and nobody likes to have their work ignored. So, it might surprise you to hear that I don’t expect my writer friends to keep up-to-date with everything I publish. I understand that they don’t have time to read it. I don’t read their work either. Yet, I respect their talent and insight.
How do all of these contradictions fit together? I’ll tell you.
Editing is not the same as reading
The only time I expect one of my writer friends to read any of my work is when I submit a story for publication. Even then, they’re not really reading my story. They’re editing it. There’s a difference.
Reading is done for enjoyment. You sit back and allow the words to flow over you. You trust in the writer’s decisions.
For editing, you have to split your mind into two parts. In one part of your mind, you develop your own preconception of the article’s potential. In the other part of your mind, you acknowledge the reality of the words on the page. As you edit, you squint so that the two perceptions of the article are superimposed upon each other.
Whenever you perceive an area of discrepancy, you make a mark.
Editing takes a lot more mental energy than writing. To be honest, I read virtually everything from an editor’s perspective. That’s why…
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