NatashaElizabethpatty

  Editing is a critical part of the creative writing process, but for writers with mental health challenges like anxiety or depression, it can feel like a battle against self-doubt and perfectionism. In this article, we’ll explore how mental health shapes the editing process and share four practical strategies to edit with clarity while silencing your inner critic. Whether you're a novelist, blogger, or creative writer, these tips will help you refine your work without letting mental health struggles take over. The Inner Critic and Mental Health in Editing Mental health doesn’t just influence the stories we write—it also affects how we edit them. For many writers, sitting down to revise a draft can trigger anxiety, self-doubt, or even depression. Questions like “Is my writing good enough?” or “Does this character’s arc make sense?” can spiral into overwhelming self-criticism. As someone who posts chapters six days a week, I’ve experienced this firsthand. On good days, I hesitate...