Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder

Maybe it is a sickness after all, but it often turns out to be for the best. Just when you think it safe to go back into the writing or transcribing waters, the jaws of editing grabbed you again and you now have a much first draft to show for it, sporting a smoother tale and about 2,000 more words to flesh it out.

The old saying goes, "Strike while the iron is hot". If you find yourself branded (pun intended) with that characteristic arsing again and again, it may be best not to fight it. It may be good for your final work to be so obsessed with perfection. That is not to say, however, that you should forget to write creatively and just edit from now on (unless you wish to switch careers to avoid the stress of authoring).

I won't belabor the point. I just want to note that you may not need to be so concerned about the constant desire to edit and polish. It could actually be good for you to do so. The more nearly perfect your work, the better a publisher will like it. And the better you will fell about it.

Still, all work and no play..., as they say. Remember to have fun, too.