About Reading Yourself

Post 1889:

At some point you’re going to have to read your work. A lot of writers advise to not look back. There is no right way. Going over old stuff can bog some people down and prevent them from reaching the finishing line. I will say that the finishing line is really important, and you might want to get there as soon as possible. Because that’s when the real work begins.

Reading over something you wrote a month or months ago can be tricky. You were a different person then, technically. I like to go line by line and question my motives—basically I put my work through the gauntlet. I wonder if it’s better to read the whole manuscript as casually as possible, like you would another book. And then… really rake it over the coals.

Self-analysis is so weird. Sometimes you let yourself get away with crap you because you’re a writer and narcissist. Sometimes you’re an insane unfair obsessed self-hating jerk because you’re a writer and narcissist. Either way it’s super fun.

You’re looking for imperfections. Sounds like a drag, but not necessarily. Plotting and characterization is hard, but try to take pleasure in the challenge of solving all the puzzles. When you get something right, you’ll know. That’s the good stuff, what writers should chase.

Give yourself a proper reading. Cheers and see you after.