Little Writing Tip 2 - Don't jump the gun

This morning I finished a 5000 word story. I started it Monday morning.

I totally want to send it to everyone I know and ask them what they think. After all, it's absolutely perfect right now. And that's what our first drafts are, perfect, because before they see another pair of eyes, (including your own upon first edit) the story is exactly as you created it to be.

However, as we know, once you review your story, it loses some luster. Maybe there's a sentence or two you can't believe you yourself wrote. (Like that last one)

Then you send it to a trusted reader and they point out all kinds of other mistakes. Like that time you wrote the word light three times in three sentences. (True story)

So, I write this blog in an effort to suggest you don't send a story out shortly after you finish it. In fact, don't even edit the story shortly after you finish it. Give it some distance. The longer the story, the greater the distance. Orson Scott Card says a novel should sit unread for one year to give it proper distance.

My short story? Probably a week. It's killing me to wait as I am most excited about it right this minute, but I know that's best.

Now you do to.