Edit for Sensitivity or Other Problems
Sometimes, your subconscious (or conscious) can do a number on you, especially if you've written something that, while accurate, may cause discomfort for another person or introduce unnecessary controversy that distracts from the intent of your message. Other times, your concern may just be overly long descriptions, verbose passages, or maybe a word that doesn't sound quite right.
Perfectionism is a form of procrastination. Don't get hung up on honing each and every word to make it perfect, if that's keeping you from completing your assignment. You want your writing to be the best it can be, but you don't want editing to become your excuse for not finishing.
If you suspect that might be the case, read over what you've written thus far and highlight or underline any passages about which you feel the least bit uncomfortable. (It isn't necessary at this point to make a decision as to whether or not to cut or replace those passages. The exercise is to make them stand out in such a way that you know you'll remember to address such issues when you do your final draft.)
With slow, deliberate movements, the woman — her ankles swollen, her dress a bit too tight across her wide hips — lumbered to the podium. Facing the audience, she took a deep breath and said, “In a nation that celebrates physical fitness and supermodel beauties, it's difficult for someone with challenges like mine to be taken seriously. You see: I don't look sick; I just look fat.” Thus began what proved to be an hour-long, insightful speech by author and chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia advocate Pamela Rice Hahn.
