Help me, please. My brain has been hijacked. A new persona has overtaken my mind. You might ask, “Is it one of your characters?” Oh no, if only.
It’s. . .The Internal Editor. (Queue Dun Dun Duuuun Sound Effect Here.)
The exact opposite of my inner being, this Rhetoric Regulator is a strong personality indeed, not easily dealt with. Can you guess the profile?
- Type A.
- Opinionated.
- Overly controlling.
- Obsessive compulsive.
- A perfectionist in every sense of the word.
Need I say more? I’m sure you get the picture.
The Grammar Guru has moved in with tons of luggage: editing paraphernalia, dictionary, thesaurus, and every book on writing you can imagine. Stealthy, and quite adept at being comfortable in my headspace, this not so accommodating guest refuses to vacate the premises. It’s now apparent that I have a permanent lodger.
I thought my new occupant walked in, unsolicited. Now, I realize that I was the one who forgot to close and lock the door. I’d been working on revisions of one of my novels for quite some time. I guess The Internal Editor thought I needed assistance, taking up residence to offer me a helping hand. Sounds like a Mary Poppins sort, don’t you think?
Melding of the Minds.
The Internal Editor is not only with me everywhere I go but has become one with me. It’s like the Vulcan mind meld effect on steroids. From now on, I have my very own personal proofreader who pulls out a virtual correcting pen and goes to town. However, I was able to rid The Corrector in Chief of that dreaded red pen, the one that leaves blood splatters across the page. It has been replaced by a pleasing purple writing implement that leaves me in a much calmer state.
Too Many Questions.
Did the slideshow you watched in your office meeting have a typo? Or maybe a bullet point out of alignment? Can’t remember anything past that stage in the presentation, can you? What little faux pas caught your eye in the newspaper article you read this morning?
How about e-mails? Are they written in all caps, or all lowercase, perhaps? Are they missing punctuation? Are there misspellings or incomplete thoughts? Do you have a compulsion to edit them?
Has the pleasure of reading turned into a complicated process for you? Do you consistently reword the author’s sentences or make mental notes if you particularly liked a word choice? Do you carry a pad and pen to jot down interesting phrases or descriptions you could use in your writing?
A Pal to Call Your Own.
Your own Internal Editor may already be ensconced in your writing mind if you answered any of the above questions with a resounding, “Yes!”
Congratulations! You’ve acquired an Articulation Associate. Whatever you read in the future will be scrutinized by that ever-critical eye.
Make no mistake, it’s an absolute necessity to have such a comrade to assist with your writing. But your new partner can become a taskmaster, whipping every facet of the written word into shape. Remember, you have an ally but stand firm against your cohort’s attempts to hold all the power. Resist too much, and you’ll flounder as a writer.
Important Rules to Follow.
You must remain a team. Balance is the key. Make The Internal Editor your friend. Learn from this valuable colleague. Invite your new companion for a hot cup of tea and work a manuscript overhaul into the bargain. Collaborate and seek to be in accord, but don’t lose yourself in the process.
Revision is a vital part of your writing. The imperfections must be buffed and polished like a precious gemstone. Travel the path of improvement. Turn your work into the best version possible.
Along the way, keep reading and writing fun.
