“We cannot escape fear. We can only transform it into a
companion that accompanies us on all our exciting adventures.” -- Susan Jeffers

In the land of The Writer, a strange things happens. We find
we’re not alone. There is a familiar voice inside most of our heads that gets
very loud whenever we break out of our normal routine.

In coaching circles you hear it referred to as the Gremlin or
the Saboteur. Writers refer to it as The
Inner Editor. Unlike the other labels which imply we don’t need this voice it
can actually serve you as a writer. Bill Plotkin, in his book Soulcraft, calls it ‘The Loyal
Soldier’. His usage comes closest to my idea of the Inner Editor.

The Inner Editor is that part of our self that kept us safe
when we were small and vulnerable and depended on the good graces of the adults
around us. Problem is, we grew up but, like Plotkin’s Loyal Soldier, our Inner
Editor doesn’t realize the danger is past, the battle over. Kind of like the WWII soldiers
left behind in the Pacific who never got word of the surrender.

There is a magazine ad I’ve seen recently where two girls
are playing soccer and one is wrapped in bubble wrap. That’s kind of what your
Inner Editor tries to do. He wants to keep you safe from the world around you.
Like an overprotective parent, he believes he knows what is best for you.
Problem is, he’s limiting your growth and power as a writer. While trying to
keep you safe from the bullies your Inner Editor became a bit of a bully
himself.

So here’s a powerful tool you can use. Before you sit down to write, stand up. No, I
really mean it. Stand up. Plant your feet. Place your hands on your hips. Claim
the spot you’re standing on. Feel how powerful that is? Now - claim your
writing the same way.

Then, as you sit down to your pad of paper or the computer,
thank your Inner Editor for his help but tell him you don’t need him right now.
Ask him to wait outside or in the corner.
Give him something to do if he’s really persistent. I know this sounds
corny but if you actually do this it signals your brain that you feel safe and
can handle what it perceives as danger.

But don’t be surprised if your Editor keeps checking back,
like a worried parent.

“Need me yet?”

“No, thank you. I’ll call you when I’m ready.”

Trust this. When the play part of writing is complete you
will invite your Editor back into the room but still - don’t give him free
rein. Instead, invite him to be your partner in the second part of the writing
process - revising. Invite your Editor to the table at that point.

This is
where his real value lies, working together with you as you smooth and polish your
completed rough draft.