The Difference Between Writing And Editing
Make your writing pleasantly effortless
This was pointed out to me by 21-time New York Times bestselling author Jerry Jenkins. I’d recommend watching him for writing tips.
I remember him saying “save your perfectionist tendencies until you’ve fully gotten your idea onto the page”. Something like that.
Basically — Save the editing until you’re finished writing. It slows you down and potentially cuts apart some of your best work, taking your energy and leaving you unable to finish writing down your ideas.
I think most of us might agree that our understanding of what writing and editing are is not the issue. The issue is the variety of doubts and restrictive feelings that arise when we go to write. Let’s simply describe writing and editing and then get into those feelings.
Writing and Editing can be nicely described as
Writing
- Getting into a writing state that works for you.
2. Write your article, chapter, etc.
Editing
- Taking the position of the reader and reading what you wrote.
2. Editing it at points where you, as the reader, felt something was unclear, untrue, or difficult to read.
It’s common to get a lot of tension/anxiety when it comes to writing. That tension comes from the worry about others' reactions to your work. Or comparing yourself to others and seeing them as better or more qualified than you are. Then placing yourself below that standard. The concern about how our writing might be read, or where it is relative to that standard, becomes how we read it. Causing creative paralysis.
Actually, I can prove to you that these worries are unfounded.
Go Look at a Handful of Articles That are Doing Well
Maybe with 500–1k claps. They don’t even need to be on Medium. You probably don’t even need to go and look, I think you’ll get what I’m talking about.
I want you to see if you think that these articles are the most accurate, bulletproof, useful pieces of information that you’ve read.
Better yet, go find the articles that you know from your experience are misinterpreting something, or have a biased perspective.
Look at how positive the response is!
I say this all the time and I’ll continue to say it
“People can post complete nonsense, even clear misinformation, and still successfully get a supportive following. You can make anything work.”
You know you’ve seen it!
If you have read enough on the internet you know that almost anything can get a lot of attention and agreeable reception, regardless of whether it is true or logically sound.
You Cannot Write Something that is Unacceptable.
Regarding personal problems and anxieties, I will usually tell people that you cannot think of anything unacceptable. You do not need to be ashamed of an idea you had or feeling you felt, nothing about them is inherently unacceptable. Many people may interpret the same feeling differently.
Something that is also true with writing. Everybody will read your words differently and may even misread your words. That is okay.
This is a powerful thing to realize. It means that you are free to develop your writing into something that you are happy with. Once you are content, you can be sure others will take to it, and that those who don’t have any real basis to lash out at you. That contentment is a seed of confidence waiting to bloom.
Don’t Be Fooled into Thinking You Can’t Write
Many of us were probably trained to believe that writing follows a set of rules. While the English grammar laws have been institutionalized well, this isn’t true.
Something has taught us that we cannot simply write the message that we would like to communicate. A lot of paranoia about being attacked for what we say or having someone pop up in the comments to declare that we’re wrong.
Give yourself a chance to prove that you’ll get the negative response your mind is playing at. It is very likely that you will either be met with support or nothing will happen. However, you need to prove this for yourself in your experience. Or else it will not become a reality for you.
To close off, here are some writing and editing tips!
Writing and Editing Tips
Writing;
- Write as a replacement for visualizing or thinking. Think directly onto the page. You must think at a slower and more relaxed pace to do this. I’ve found that the concerns about editing and audience response are what make me tense and unable to relax.
- Write completely before you start editing.
- Assume that by virtue of having written it down, you’ve given it value.
- Be comfortable waiting to see a way to write down thoughts.
Editing;
- Look for readability. Were you becoming distracted while reading? Did the point that you were trying to make seem incoherent? Or prevent the next sentence or paragraph from being received well?
- Visual enhancements and headings. Both of these can be used as tools to enhance the flow of your writing.
Thanks for reading!
Ask me questions about life, relationships, spirituality, writing, whatever you want! I’ll answer in an article.
