There will come a day—maybe some have already come and gone—when you read something you wrote and anger immediately roils in hot currents inside of you, and all you want to do is crumple your paper and never see it again!

It is astoundingly easy to dislike what we write.  We can have a good idea, some superb paragraphs and pages, and still feel disappointed.  Ten people can tell us that we have created something good, shower us with compliments, and we can still dislike what we wrote!

What forces could possibly be at work here?

Elves believe that writers get SIGNALS when they are working on a piece of writing.  The very first signal is like a gentle songbird.  Translated into words, the signal might sound something like this:

“Hello there!  You are doing a fine job!  This writing is missing a little something.  Keep looking for it.  You will certainly find it!”

This is nothing more than a helpful hint, to let us know that there is a bit more to work on and revise.

However, as we continue our work, searching for the right little somethings to adjust, the first signal often gets drowned out, possibly even run over, by second signal that begins without warning or invitation. This signal is a screech, a roar, and it translates into words considerably more worrisome. All of a sudden, what the writer hears inside his head is:

“You, there!  This writing is terrible, worthless and should be crumpled at once!”

And the tearing of precious pages commences.

New idea: When you feel up to reading another tip, move on to When-You-Dislike-What-You-Wrote-Chapter-II).

Until then, notice the signals you hear as you write.  Notice, listen… but don’t tear up or crumple.