Sarah Hargreaves

So I’m writing a scene, tapping away at my computer, and something doesn’t feel right.

I can’t put my finger on it, but the tone of my descriptions, the dialogue, felt off.

So, I put my laptop down, made a cup of tea, ran a bath, and started a book by one of my favourite authors.

As per lesson 2, I started reading and was trying to think why I was enjoying it so much. What made the writing so much better than mine?

I can’t quite work out why, but since that little break, a read of an old favourite with new eyes, I have come back to my own writing with gusto. Just writing in bed with pen and paper has allowed some scenes and character details to just flow out of my hand without much thought.

So, what’s the lesson?

Read, read and read some more?

Don’t overthink?

I was overthinking when I was typing. I’m not when I’m handwriting.

I read somewhere (can’t remember where I’ve read numerous things about writing) that writing is 20% writing, 80% editing.

I could be misremembering the stats but the message is the same.

Get that first draft done. If it’s crap, we can worry about that later.