When I was at uni, I found that multiple choice exams were best done quickly. In most cases the answer you chose first – the one that your gut told you was right – usually was correct. I’d never go back and check my answers either, because I felt the more that I analysed the question, the more likely I was going to change a right answer to a wrong one.
The same can sometimes be said for writing. When you write quickly, getting everything done without so much as a pause, you quite often find it is some of your best work. It flows, it’s engaging, it connects to the reader.
But as soon as you start re-reading, tweaking words here and there, fine-tuning paragraphs, and generally messing around with what you’ve done – your great work gets diluted. It’s boring. Sure it’s probably grammatically perfect, but it’s now stunted and lacking imagination.
So next time you’ve had an inspired ramble, don’t be tempted to go back and meddle. Check that there’s no spelling mistakes, then press save.
