What a delightful article, Patti Podnar . As a writer, I never, ever, ever let anyone edit my work. Never! That’s like a painter asking someone to add some brush strokes to their painting. It’s like asking someone to brush your teeth for you. Brush your own darn teeth. If you can’t edit then you’re not a writer. Writing and editing are two parts of the same endeavor.

With that being said, I have to admit that so many, many writers desperately need some editing. I used to edit for people but not any more. I’ve said, ‘no,’ enough that people have stopped asking me. Thank goodness. It’s enough work editing my own stuff.

Those were all wonderful questions you posed. I have quit asking most all of those questions, though. Those questions pollute one’s thinking and thinking is one of the worst things a writer can do. I try to empty my mind of all thinking in order to become an empty vessel a story can come through. Nothing blocks a good story more than thinking.