Day 24: Overthinking Everything – A Writer’s Superpower
Let’s talk about overthinking. If overthinking were an Olympic sport, I’d have enough gold medals to retire. It’s not just a hobby—it’s a way of life. Should this character turn left or right? Is this metaphor too obvious? Did I use the word “glanced” too many times in this paragraph? (Spoiler alert: I did. And I rewrote it five times.)
This week, I spiraled into the glorious, chaotic vortex of overthinking every single detail of my story. At one point, I spent half an hour debating whether my protagonist should order coffee or tea in a throwaway scene. In the end, I went with tea. Why? Because I’ve already written too many coffee scenes and thought my readers might stage an intervention.
The Joy (and Pain) of Overthinking
Overthinking is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it’s the reason your writing has depth and nuance. On the other hand, it’s why you’re stuck rewording the same sentence for the seventh time at 2 a.m.
Here’s what I’ve realized about overthinking: It’s just your brain caring a little too much. And honestly, isn’t that better than not caring at all? Sure, it slows things down, but it’s also where the magic happens—the tiny details that make your story feel alive.
This Week’s Overthinking Highlights
The Case of the Mysterious Hat: Should my character wear a hat to the market? If so, what kind of hat? Does the hat reveal her personality? What does the hat say about her? (I eventually scrapped the hat entirely. RIP, hat.)
The Great Beverage Debate: As mentioned, tea won out over coffee after an embarrassingly long internal argument. Did it matter? No. Did I care? Way too much.
The Perfect First Line: I rewrote the first line of a scene twelve times before realizing the third version was the best. Lesson learned: trust your instincts.
How to Tame the Overthinking Beast
Overthinking can be productive—if you know when to stop. Here’s how I manage (or try to manage) my overthinking spirals:
- Set a Timer: Give yourself five minutes to obsess over the small stuff, then move on. If it’s still bothering you later, you can come back to it.
- Get a Second Opinion: Sometimes, another writer or friend can tell you whether you’re being brilliant or bonkers.
- Write It Anyway: Even if it feels wrong, just put it down. You can always fix it later. (And by “later,” I mean during your next overthinking session.)
What Do You Overthink?
I know I’m not the only one who’s spent an hour debating a single word choice. What’s your overthinking kryptonite? Characters? Plot twists? Whether the sunset should be orange or gold? Let’s commiserate in the comments—it’s cheaper than therapy.
Overthinking Isn’t Always Bad
Here’s the thing: overthinking is part of what makes us great storytellers. It means we care. It means we’re invested. And yes, it means we sometimes spend way too much time on things no one else will notice—but isn’t that kind of the point?
So here’s to overthinking. To caring too much. To questioning every comma and pondering every cup of tea. Because at the end of the day, those tiny, overthought details are what make our stories unforgettable.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go reword this post’s last paragraph for the fifth time. (Or maybe the sixth.)
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