#267: 5 Ways to Quiet Your Inner Critic and Stay in the Writing Zone

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When you are in your writing zone, you are using the right side of your brain. This is the creative part of your brain. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whereas when you are outlining, researching, and editing you are using the left side of your brain. This is the logical part of your brain and also where your inner critic resides.</span><span style= "font-weight: 400;"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Therefore when you try to write and edit at the same time, your inner critic can easily shut you down. For example, your inner critic might say, “You’re not spelling that right. Who are you to write a book when you don’t even know how to spell? This is horrible. You might as well stop now and not even try to write this book.” And on and on it goes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’ve all been there. So, let’s not let our inner critic get the best of us. Amen?</span></p> <p><strong><em>5 ways to quiet your inner critic and stay in the writing zone: </em></strong></p> <ol> <li><strong>Highlight an area that will need more editing or research later.</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">You can do this by using a different color or highlighting the text. If you’re writing with paper and pen (or pencil) you can draw an asterisks or arrow next to it.</span></li> <li><strong>Turn off spell check.</strong> Spell check can be a constant distraction because it shows you where your potential spelling and grammar mistakes are as you write. It is important to self-edit your work, but I don’t recommend doing it when you’re in the writing zone. So if this distracts you, turn it off while you’re writing.</li> </ol> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s how in Microsoft Word:</span> <a href= "https://support.office.com/en-us/article/turn-spell-check-on-or-off-e2805461-77d4-4832-b006-061163c8d01a"> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">https://support.office.com/en-us/article/turn-spell-check-on-or-off-e2805461-77d4-4832-b006-061163c8d01a</span></a><s