Should you edit as you write? It’s a question every writer must ask, and there is no set answer. It truly is a personal preference — you should do what works best for you.
All Writers Are Editors
You don’t have to be a perfect editor, but you can’t count on others to fix all of your mistakes and make your writing better — you need to do that yourself. You can edit when you write and you can edit after you write, or you can do a mix of both. Just make sure you do it.
I Edit As I Write
Could just be the way my brain works and the nature of my personal psychological make-up, but I edit big-time as I’m clicking the keys. I’ll stop in mid-sentence to use a better word, add a phrase, or tighten a phrase. I’ll stop to add something five paragraphs back. I’ll stop to shuffle paragraphs, or add something to my outline. I’ll even stop to fix a typo (actually, I almost always stop to fix a typo).
Why? I do it because I’m concerned I may not catch that mistake on a later read-through, or that I may not remember that better word or phrase or sentence.
It works for me.
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And I Edit After I Write
I always give everything a second reading, even if it’s just a quick e-mail or a Facebook post. For my professional freelance writing and for my posts here and on my other blogs, I do one thorough reading, editing as necessary, followed by at least one more go-through, even if it’s a quick one.
Your Take: Do You Edit As You Write?
What about you? Do you edit as you write, or do you go back and do it later, or do you do a mix like me?
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Thanks for making it clear that there’s no one answer. I’ve heard other writers insist that the only way to be prolific is to write without editing, then go back. I’ve tried to write with no editing–it just doesn’t work!
Like you, if I’m trying to capture an outline or brainstorming phrases I’ll go without regard to spelling or such, but if I’m cranking out prose for a project, I edit for spelling and punctuation as I go, and frequently go back to change words. Then everything gets another go over, quick for emails and such, or thorough, if it’s client work or my own content.
I do a mix of both, but probably the majority of editing once I’ve got a good first draft done.
I’ve read a lot of self-published Kindle books with plenty of typos and other errors. Those authors could have made their novels better through editing, either as they write or when they’re finished. Or at least asked someone to proofread before hitting the publish button!
John, like you, I edit as I write, in close to the same fashion: changing words, syntax and adding/subtracting on the fly. That feels organic to me, notwithstanding the argument to just get the first draft done. And then I edit after.
I will often (deadline permitting) wait another day before I turn something in to give it a final edit, which sometimes results in just a word change or two, and sometimes more substantive chances.
Many writers who HATE writing find they start to like it if they can break the habit of editing-while-they-write. I’m not saying that everyone has to do this, but if you dislike writing, give it a try. It may surprise you. Here are some tips on how to make it work: https://www.publicationcoach.com/7-ways-to-stop-editing-while-you-write/
Actually I find when I write more words using SimpleNote (as it can display the words) on my laptop
It is always because I don’t edit , I write with even spelling mistakes
I go and sleep on it and revisit it later after a day or if I write it in the morning , I revisit it evening time
I find it to be more effective
I always edit a mistake if I catch it as i’m writing. Otherwise, I edit it after I finished the first draft.
I find that trying to get all of my thoughts onto the page without editing much initially allows me to be much more productive than stopping to deliberate over every word choice or to correct typos when I write them. But I know I have a secret weapon: my significant other always provides a second set of eyes to tighten up any prose, punctuation, or spelling issue that may have initially slipped through the cracks.
I’ve read a lot of self-published Kindle books with plenty of typos and other errors. Those authors could have made their novels better through editing, either as they write or when they’re finished. Or at least asked someone to proofread before hitting the publish button!