If your copy seems wrong, yet you can’t put your finger on it, there are a number of things you can try:
1. Run it through an English grammar software to check for correctness – it could be a subtle error that’s causing the less-than-ideal tone.
2. Run it through the same software’s style checker – you could be using constructs best suited for other writing types.
3. If you’ve done both steps and things still seem amiss, best leave the material alone for the day.
Judging you own writing objectively, as you write it, can be one of the most difficult things to do. It’s like critiquing your basketball skills while you’re in the middle of a game – you’ll either see none of your flaws or you’ll end up stifling your own creativity. Either way, the results you’ll get aren’t the best.
As such, if you find yourself stuck while looking over your writing, try leaving it for now and returning to the task tomorrow. Instead of evaluating it in the heat of the moment, simply let the day pass busying yourself on other things. When you finally return to it, you might end up surprised at the amount of things you notice about it.
Doing the writing and editing as separate tasks, you get to assume two roles individually. When you write, you let the passion of the material consume you without worrying about potential issues. During evaluation the next day, you can dissect it without being attached emotionally.
