Separate Each of Pre-Planning, Writing, and Editing by at least a Day

Summary

The author has improved their writing quality by separating the pre-planning, writing, and editing stages by at least a day, leading to more polished and engaging final outputs.

Abstract

The author shares their journey of enhancing their writing by implementing a structured approach to the writing process. Initially struggling to create engaging content, they found inspiration on Medium from accomplished writers who recommended separating the writing and editing processes by at least a day. Following this advice, the author began to pre-plan, write, and edit on different days, sometimes even extending to multiple editing sessions. This separation allowed for a more critical eye during editing, making the difficult task of cutting unnecessary words more manageable. The author notes the resistance to deleting one's own words but emphasizes the importance of self-criticism in writing. They acknowledge the continuous nature of learning and improvement in writing and express satisfaction with the drastic improvement in their work since adopting this process. The author also reflects on the importance of editing in bringing out the true talent of a writer, transforming thoughts into engaging and readable content for the audience.

Opinions

The author believes that separating the writing and editing processes significantly enhances the quality of the final piece.
They acknowledge the inherent difficulty in critically evaluating and editing one's own work.
The author values the process of learning and self-improvement in writing, recognizing that there is always room to grow.
They suggest that the true talent of a writer is revealed during the editing stage, where each sentence is crafted to contribute meaningfully to the narrative.
The author encourages other writers to adopt the practice of separating writing and editing to realize the full potential of their work.
They express a willingness to let past writings stand as a testament to their evolution as a writer, rather than removing them despite feeling they are now inferior.

The final output became way more polished and engaging

For long, I’ve been struggling with words. I felt as though what I wrote, although made sense, lacked the ability to hook the readers down. I was never satisfied with my own writings.

Medium appeared as a blessing. I came across a few accomplished writers. Since joining the platform, I have been following some of them wholeheartedly. I figured out most of them had one suggestion in common when it came to writing — “separate your writing and editing processes by a day or two before you hit publish”.

It made sense. I don’t know why that never crossed my mind before. Maybe it did, but I never gave it serious thought as I wasn’t told by some professional. But now I’ve seen it. I have the validation.

So, I did it. I separated my pre-planning, writing, and editing processes by a day. Sometimes, I even had 2–3 editing sessions in case I wasn’t satisfied by the first edit.

It’s tough to crop your own words, I must say. There is an inherent resistance that makes deleting unnecessary words from the articles difficult. But I try my best. I’m yet to be the best version of myself. Probably I’ll never be. There is always more to learn, more to improve on.

But the final version of each of my writings has improved drastically since I decided to stick to the process. I feel like removing every article I’ve written previously. They look like child’s play now.

There is no guarantee what I’m writing today will be liked by me in a year’s time. So, I’ve let my previous self live through my writings. After a few years, I can come back and relive these days and rejoice my evolution as a writer.

Writing is easy. Editing is tough.

Writing is getting the thoughts down on paper. Editing, on the other hand, is making it more readable and engaging for the readers.

Your real talent unveils itself when you actually sit down to edit your content after a day or two. The toughest part is to be self-critical in your own writings. Giving each sentence a story is gruesome.

See, when you write 200 words, writing another 100 isn’t hard. But the reverse is really dogged. You find out your 300-word article is repugnant. You have to cut it down to 200 awesome words — this, in fact, is the real deal.

Taking one line at a time, making sure every word is in place and each sentence holds its importance — that is what separates a good writer from the great.

There is a long way to go. I am growing as a writer with each passing day, with each published article.

For writers like me, trying to hone the craft, please follow the advice most proficient writers give:

Separate your writing and editing processes by at least a day.

You’ll realize the true power of this process and understand the true meaning of your words. It will make you a better writer.

What are your thoughts on this? Let me know.

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Separate Each of Pre-Planning, Writing, and Editing by at least a Day

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