Creative Fiction Takes More Editing Than Non-Fiction – An Important Thing To Remember

Over the years, I’ve written a number of articles, and a number of e-books. Most of my writing is nonfiction, and only some of it is storytelling. One thing I’ve learned is that creative fiction and creative writing takes a lot more energy editing than it does when producing nonfiction. Perhaps the reason for this is because it uses a different side of your brain, and often writers will tell the story as they go.
In doing so, their brain is generally working faster than they can type, or even spill out the words from a speech recognition software program into a word processing venue. However, regardless of the reason, and after surveying a couple of hundred writers over the years, I’ve become convinced that one must take a lot more care in editing creative work, than while they are touching up nonfiction pieces.
Interestingly enough, those who are the best at creative fiction, are typically not very good editors. I believe this is because the right side of the brain is used mostly for logic, rules, and knowledge, whereas the left side of the brain is typically used for creative things. If one is endowed with the brilliance of creativity, then when they are in the creative flow the right side of their brain is probably idling.
And it could be for this reason that most creative writers recommend that the author does not engage in editing while they are writing, but rather just continue writing straight through, and come back and edit later. Those who try to write and edit at the same time, generally make even more mistakes, at least that has been my experience.
Since creative writers probably think slightly differently, and have formatted their brains differently than the top editors, it makes sense to allow the editor to do the work, which their brain is designed for, and not force a creative person to do the tedious work of editing, because they won’t enjoy it, and we all know that people who don’t enjoy what they are doing, generally do a lousy job at it.
Yes, I am speaking in stereotypes, and generalities here. And yes, each person is their own individual, and I suppose someone who has a master’s degree in English, and is an incredibly creative person, could probably do both just fine, but I would submit to you; that is a rare and unique individual. Indeed, I wish I knew more people like that.
Suffice it to say, everyone should do what they’re best at, and be alleviated from those things that they aren’t good at if we want to have an efficient society, and the best of all worlds. Indeed I hope you will please consider that philosophy as it relates to editing your creative fiction. Think on it.