One of the hardest things to do is learn to be a good judge of your own work. It's hard, but if you learn to do it -- you'll be better off for it.
And I'm talking about
1. Choosing Ideas
2. Knowing if a scene is working
3. Knowing what to cut
4. Giving yourself notes before you get them from others
5. If you're writing a comedy -- is this really funny?
6. Etc, etc, etc...
These types of things.
Of course we all need feedback from outside sources. But sometimes you got to put your own work away -- leave it be -- and then come back to it with fresh eyes and pretend someone else wrote it and give notes on it. Fix it up.
I'm sure a lot of you will say you do this -- but ask yourself -- do you really do it? Why are you more forgiven of your own mistakes than you would be of mine if you read pages on here?
I see people on here over the years (not just current members) and writer friends who give me great notes and then when I read their work make all the same mistakes they saw in my work.
And I'm like -- how did they not see this issue in their own work? And I know some of the reasons -- but if "you" the writer can learn to be your own best reader and note giver -- that will help you a lot.
Be hard on yourself before you show your work to the world.
And I'm talking about
1. Choosing Ideas
2. Knowing if a scene is working
3. Knowing what to cut
4. Giving yourself notes before you get them from others
5. If you're writing a comedy -- is this really funny?
6. Etc, etc, etc...
These types of things.
Of course we all need feedback from outside sources. But sometimes you got to put your own work away -- leave it be -- and then come back to it with fresh eyes and pretend someone else wrote it and give notes on it. Fix it up.
I'm sure a lot of you will say you do this -- but ask yourself -- do you really do it? Why are you more forgiven of your own mistakes than you would be of mine if you read pages on here?
I see people on here over the years (not just current members) and writer friends who give me great notes and then when I read their work make all the same mistakes they saw in my work.
And I'm like -- how did they not see this issue in their own work? And I know some of the reasons -- but if "you" the writer can learn to be your own best reader and note giver -- that will help you a lot.
Be hard on yourself before you show your work to the world.
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