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August 2003 Column

He has a very nasty habit of showing up at the wrong time--usually while I'm writing a rough draft. I try to ignore him but every so often he still creeps into my mind. My inner editor. Nagging at me while I write.

You've probably dealt with him too. Does the following scene seem familiar? You're working on a rough draft. You're happily writing along when all of a sudden he appears. "This story is way too long. That last sentence was not really necessary was it? You're using that word an awful lot."

So what to do? Ignore him. That's what I do. And write the words ROUGH DRAFT when I label the front of my notebook. A subtle reminder, when I need it, that no one but my eyes will fall upon this draft of my story.

Notice I don't try to get rid of him. That would indeed be detrimental to my writing. For my inner editor does have his place. I usually pull him out while doing my second or third draft. He serves me well as the foreman of my manuscript clean up crew.

He catches sentences that sound wrong. Voices that don't fit with my characters personality. And the ever popular grammar and spelling errors. These times I welcome him. My inner editor catches problems in my story, that I may have never caught on my own. He does indeed have his place.

But never ever in the first draft, when the words are freely flowing. My muse and he, you have to understand do not get along overly well. So when the words are flowing from my pen easily, I always make sure my editor is put down for a nap. I let him sleep at least until the second draft. It's best this way.

Carla Charter is mom to Samantha (12), Halden (5), and Mathew (4). In addition to being a mom, Carla is a freelance writer specializing in newspaper and magazine journalism. Among her publication credits are Woman's World, American Indian Report  and New England Business Journal. Online she has been published in Scubasource.com and Military.com. She teaches creative writing courses at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, Ma. Recently her novel Across Lots has been serialized at http://www.newenglandwow.com. She may be reached at cjfreelancewriter@earthlink.net.