Oh yeah, I should have been more clear: editing as you go is a totally valid way to do it. It’s generally how I prefer to write (why write it twice if I can write it once?), but some people can really struggle with it.
Whether it’s in the moment or retrospectively, any professional work probably should be edited. I have found that editing in the moment or even yesterday’s work causes me to miss things. There’s certainly something to be had by letting things percolate and then reviewing with fresh eyes.
Starting was always the hardest part for me. Editing yesterday’s work was a good way to get over writer’s block. Another trick I liked was when I finished for a session it was sometimes helpful to end in the middle of a sentence. Starting from nothing is hard, but even just finishing an incomplete thought can get the ball rolling.
Also, don’t worry too much about the writing itself, about whether it’s good in a technical sense. There are plenty of successful authors who aren’t great writers, but they are great storytellers, and that’s the most important part.
Oh yeah, I should have been more clear: editing as you go is a totally valid way to do it. It’s generally how I prefer to write (why write it twice if I can write it once?), but some people can really struggle with it.
Whether it’s in the moment or retrospectively, any professional work probably should be edited. I have found that editing in the moment or even yesterday’s work causes me to miss things. There’s certainly something to be had by letting things percolate and then reviewing with fresh eyes.
Starting was always the hardest part for me. Editing yesterday’s work was a good way to get over writer’s block. Another trick I liked was when I finished for a session it was sometimes helpful to end in the middle of a sentence. Starting from nothing is hard, but even just finishing an incomplete thought can get the ball rolling.
Good points!
Also, don’t worry too much about the writing itself, about whether it’s good in a technical sense. There are plenty of successful authors who aren’t great writers, but they are great storytellers, and that’s the most important part.