The Brutal Truth About Writing You Can't Trust Your Own Eyes

Objectivity is crucial for human survival. We must see reality for what it is. Yet for writers, this fundamental skill becomes maddeningly elusive when facing our own work.

Why?

Because we don't see what's on the page – we see the masterpiece playing in our heads. We pour our deepest values into every word, feeling intense emotional resonance that most readers simply won't share. And many of us, especially newer writers, lack the technical criteria to judge our work dispassionately.

Let's be crystal clear:

Most writers cannot be objective about their own stories. We're blind to the gaps, the flaws, and ironically, the opportunities. This blindness leads countless creatives to submit scripts that aren't ready, earning swift rejections and damaged reputations.

The Solution?

Here's an industry fact:

Every professional writer gets edited. Extensively. Those novels and screenplays you admire? They've been through multiple rounds of ruthless revision. The “perfect first draft” is a myth.

I know what you're thinking.

Editing hurts. Each session leaves buckets of creative blood on the floor – I've been there countless times in my thirty years of storytelling. But a few days later, perspective dawns and the path forward emerges. Remember this mantra:

Every edit makes my story stronger and me a better writer.

Take Action Now

Before seeking professional editing, set yourself up for success:

1. Let your writing "go cold" – step away for at least a week. Distance makes you a sharper critic of your own work.

2. Master fundamental writing principles. The more you understand story structure, character development, and dramatic technique, the better you'll spot weaknesses in your own work.

3. Change how you see your text:

a Print it out instead of reading on screen

b Switch to a different font or format

c Read it aloud.

These simple tricks help your brain process the words as new, revealing flaws you previously missed.

Embracing Professional Editing

But all writers need to follow the major solution to objectively judging and improving their story:

1. Get professional editing early. Start with your 30-word premise – it's far cheaper to fix issues there than in a full script.

2. Skip the well-meaning amateurs – your friends and family; and bargain-basement coverage services won't cut it.

3. Accept that professional editing isn't optional – it's how you'll know if your script is truly ready for submission.

Just as objectivity keeps us alive, professional editing keeps our creative careers breathing. Embrace it -- and watch your writing transform.

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