What have I DONE? (a mixtape for the editing walk of shame)

Do you get in-the-moment exuberance followed by terrible, terrible shame?

This happens every time I write, and it also happened when I did the first Block Party. (I cringe when I think of the things I said. The voices. The dancing. All of it.)

WHAT HAVE I DONE?

In the moment, it always feels like the best idea ever. No, really!

I’ve done the walk of shame before, but that was with far inferior drafts.

This time I’m on to something. I CAN FEEL IT!

But the next morning, there I am again, doing the walk of shame. I can’t believe I wrote that. I’ve really embarrassed myself this time! How did I ever think this would be a good idea? 

How do you know your confidence wasn’t just youthful indiscretion brought on by too much excitement? Can you trust your own powers of discernment?

This is where craft comes in. You didn’t need it when you were writing yesterday. Exuberance was the right call. But you need it now.

The next day, when you’re feeling calm and clear, when the high has worn off, when you’re not quite so giddy with enthusiasm, you can see your draft clearly. Now is the time to edit like a kind, curious boss.

It takes courage to look at what you wrote, to start again, and to keep starting.

But if you can stay curious and kind, your writing becomes a product of both exuberance and discernment.

So, just in case, like me, you’ve woken up this morning and asked yourself, WHAT HAVE I DONE? I made you a new mixtape.

It’s just for editing to.  The Morning After Editing Mix