"السر في تحرير عملك بسيط: تحتاج أن تصبح قارئه بدلاً من كاتبه"

When you're trying to polish your own piece of writing, the trick is to look at it through a fresh pair of eyes, like you’re reading someone else’s work. This shift in perspective is the heart of good editing. It’s about shedding the skin of the creator and donning the hat of a reader.

This advice has been passed around by writers and editors for ages. Why? Because it's easy to get too close to your own work. When you're entrenched in the writing process, every word seems precious. You remember the struggle behind each turn of phrase, making it hard to see where your story might drag or your argument might falter. But if you step back and imagine you’re encountering the text for the first time, you gain the distance needed to spot the flaws and strengths more objectively.

Consider the prolific author Stephen King. In his book "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft," he talks about putting a first draft in a drawer and not looking at it for a while. When he returns to it, he's able to read it with fresh eyes. This technique allows him to see the work as a reader would, making it easier to identify awkward passages, unnecessary details, or inconsistencies in the plot or argument.

So, how do you apply this wisdom in your own writing? Let’s say you’ve written a short story. After penning the final sentence, put it away for a few days. Seriously—don't peek. When you come back to it, pretend you don't know the author. Read it as if you found it in a magazine or as if a friend asked for your feedback. Notice where you get bored, where you get confused, or where you find yourself thinking, "This doesn't quite work."

To really drive this point home, let’s imagine a scenario. Picture a student, Alex, working on an essay for a history class. Alex spends hours researching, writing, and revising, convinced every paragraph is crucial. But right before submitting the essay, Alex remembers that crucial piece of advice: read it like a reader. So, Alex takes a break, plays some video games, and comes back to the essay the next day. This time, Alex pretends to be a classmate who knows nothing about the topic. Almost immediately, Alex notices a couple of paragraphs are repetitive—information that felt necessary when writing but is tedious when reading. Alex trims the fat, clarifies some points that seemed confusing, and adds a more engaging hook at the beginning.

By shifting from writer to reader, you can transform your work. Take those precious breaks, get some distance, and come back with the mindset of someone unfamiliar with the toil behind the words. You'll find your writing sharper, clearer, and more compelling. And remember, it's okay to let things go—you’re not losing anything; you’re making the experience better for your readers.