Write First, Edit Later — Changed the Way I Write Forever

And a little bit about my writing process

Writing is a craft. You can improve your writing with time, like any other craft, if you stick with it.

You can read articles after articles on writing but they won’t make up for the writing itself. The only way to get better at writing is to write.

We can master anything by learning to solve problems as we go along. Likewise, when we write every day we face all these writing-related problems head-on and go ahead solving them on the way forward. If you don’t write every day, you won’t face the problems that you otherwise would face writing and won’t become great at writing as you won’t have enough hands-on experience about it yet.

The only way to get better at writing is to write.

I’ve been writing regularly for some time now. I took writing seriously only recently. As a starter, I’m facing many writing-related issues which I’m learning to solve on my way forward. They are helping me with sharpening my writing skills.

You can up your writing craft if you’re willing to learn. You learn by solving problems. The more problems you solve, the more adept you become at it.

Learning becomes easier when we learn by standing on the shoulders of the giants. Follow the writers you admire. Observe carefully how they write. Learn from them. Find out what makes their writings stand out. Make them your own. Imitate their writing style if you will.

Don’t bother with creating your own writing style if you’re just starting out. Some things just take time. You can’t produce a baby in one month by making nine women pregnant. In time you will find your writing voice. In the meantime, enjoy the writing journey.

Learning becomes easier when we learn by standing on the shoulders of the giants.

I’ve read tens of books and articles on writing. And I still devour them when I find one. Some of them tell the same old tales, some presents with something new to learn. I try to learn something from all of them. They teach me one or two things about writing that help me with becoming a better writer.

Through years I’ve learned many things on writing. But very few were as revolutionary for me as a writer as was the write first, edit later mantra.

I used to write and edit at the same time. As a result, my writing was sloppy and took time. It was hardly doing the job for me.

I would think something up to write, then would write and edit that at the same time. My writing technique was about making every sentence perfect as I go along. It was as if I may have to submit the piece in a hurry and may not have time to re-check it before publishing and so was making sure everything was ready for publication when I was done with them.

Why stick with something when you can do better?

I developed this habit in my school days and it got stuck with me ever since. In schools, particularly during exams, you have very little time to write long answers to the questions. You have to cover so much in a very short time.

Many people, like me, can’t leave this habit of writing and editing at the same time even after leaving schools. They apply this writing technique even when they’re writing professionally.

Professional writers don’t write this way as it’s not an efficient way to write. You may feel okay writing this way but why stick with something when you can do better?

When you write whatever comes to mind, your writing flows.

I’m not sure where I first came to learn about this write first, edit later way of writing, but I can assure you that it had a profound impact on my writing style. It changed the way I write for the better.

Now when I sit down to write, I write whatever comes to my mind. I write whatever my fingers make me write. I go with my writing wherever it takes me. I don’t think and write anymore; I just write.

Earlier when I was writing and editing at the same time, it would make me take unnecessary pauses to my thought processes and that would impact my writing too.

When you write whatever comes to mind, your writing flows. This flow then dictates where your writing will go. You don’t have to think about whatever you have to write about. You don’t have to fight with the writer’s block anymore.

You are in a flow state of mind. Your writing reads like a coherent piece of art. You no longer have to force your way into writing. Your writing says it all.

It takes more effort to edit than to write.

It’s the beauty of writing at a stretch. You shouldn’t necessarily strive for writing the whole thing in one sitting though. Take your time. Your mileage may vary. But that’s okay.

When you’re writing, just write. Don’t bother with editing your piece until you’re done writing. Don’t even check for any spelling or grammatical errors either. You can start editing your piece when you think you’ve written all you could.

The editing phase does not mark the end of writing. On the contrary. It demands re-writing, removing bits, adding more while complementing others.

It takes more effort to edit than to write. Find out if anything seems out of place. You’re writing for the readers. To give your readers a good read, the whole piece has to read coherently.

On Facebook, you can view how your Facebook profile is shown to the public. You can do the same with your article. Read your story aloud. If you see any discrepancy, change or rephrase it or use synonyms where appropriate. If anything needs explanation, explain it. If anything seems unnecessary, remove it.

A long break gives me enough time to take a fresh perspective on the article I just wrote.

Correct spelling and grammatical errors to the best of your ability. Don’t go all-out war with the grammar just yet. This is the phase where you can bring massive change to your article.

After I’m done with the editing, I usually take a long break. A long break gives me enough time to take a fresh perspective on the article I just wrote.

If I finish writing the article in the early morning, then I don’t come back to it until the afternoon. This long break enables me to read the article from a fresh perspective. It helps me to find more errors in my writing and shows me areas of improvement.

The break also gives me time to ponder on the article. When I’m on a break while writing an article, I get random thoughts or catchy lines to add to my article. Taking a break while writing something works wonders for me.

With a fresh perspective and more ideas to add to my article, I re-write parts of the article and make it ready to publish.

If I think I’m satisfied with my article already, then I check it with any good grammar checking tools. I use the Hemingway editor and the Grammarly app. I find both immensely helpful.

Writing first and editing later has enabled me to leap forward in my writing. I don’t get stuck with my writing or spend time aimlessly thinking of what to write about anymore. If you’re still in the league of writers who write and edit at the same time, give write first, edit later a try. It’ll boost your writing by a mile. Believe you me.