Do you edit while writing or once the first draft is done?
Do the automated editing of Word or other services cause a distraction to the flow of fingers dancing upon the keyboard composing a work?
Brain does the writing, Fingers just act out what Brain tells them to, Mind's Eye keeps a check on what's gone down and Brain might revise content whilst Fingers are busy - so watch out Fingers! Before Fingers clicks on the button, Mind's Eye casts a look over what's down, maybe gives a last-minute instruction to Fingers and then 'Whacko!' Another page enters posterity.
Brain, Fingers and Mind's Eye take a breather - maybe a tot of 'Famous Grouse' is in order, courtesy of Stomach. It gets easier.
Yours in my view certainly danced a tune, Alan. I can see from what is shared the oblique queues of Word's squiggly colored lines become part of the flow with the blessing of learning too. Perhaps it grows onto us becoming part of us?
It is part of us, our 'brain-children' so to speak. Then you see your creation on a click of the outstretched hand whenever you want to check readership statistics - watch its popularity grow, maybe update it now and then if it's that kind of page
I do both, even though my fingers get away from me sometimes. There are days my brain feels like it's on a runaway. I have to edit multiple times, as I have dyslexia and writing provides me the structure to work on retraining my brain.
Editing brings to you blessings I see, Terrie. I seem to be stopping and editing along the way much more. Before, I would let the flow run its course, especially with creative writing. The next step would be going back to edit.
Hi Tim, yes I do that a lot. I think my average article has been edited at least 4/5 times. Now working on my next one. You are very successful yourself I see.
.Dyslexia's normally a handicap, but some overcome it. With effort it's controllable. There are numerous actors and writers who've done that, such as Susan Hampshire.
Okay, I want to change my answer. I am writing poetry for April and it's impossible to edit while writing. You have to let it flow. I guess I'll be doing more editing after the fact this month. LOL.
I am a firm believer in editing as I go. The very moment I see one of those spurious squiggles I need to stop, identify the problem, and fix it. Of course this means that I sometimes lose my flow, but it does usually mean less editing at the end.
I have these deals. I really like to do them but am kind of piss poor at them. Mailing snail mail to friends. Soccer. And proofing. I like to proof before, during and after and love the little warnings from my bot editors. Writing is such a cool adventure. Perhaps better than reading - maybe that is bad to admit. Kind of like listening to yourself more than others.
I think editing at the final - third stage before publishing or saving is like a discovery into what I am really thinking, and maybe a push to learn more of who I was the 10 minutes before.
Words are thoughts committed to a permanence, written or verbal. Preaching and arguing in court on the fly are just awesome concepts because you edit thought not grammar. You actually become the heart and mind editor in milliseconds. Our minds are so cool in the area of adjustment and restroking the keys of our intelligence.
Oops sorry I rant. But I just love this area of inquiry. (no I really love this concept to think about -- which phrase was right? ;-)
When I first began to write long drafts back in the 1960's, it was double-space on a manual typewriter with no real chance to edit as you typed. This meant editing at the end - another complete type all the way through. That was called a second draft. By the time a full length manuscript of, say, 70,000 words was completed, the whole thing had been typed ALL THE WAY THROUGH, maybe four or five times. That's why it took around six months work to write a book.
Today you can edit as you type - though I advise against it. It can temporarily block the creative flow. I say, type a whole section, i.e. what you intend to complete that day, and then go back to using the Word Processor to edit it afterwards.
What took me six months in the 1960s to the 1980s now takes me around four or five weeks maximum.
Yes, it's far easier today than it was. Less patience involved. And even better, you can self-publish instead of having some publisher's reader give it short-shrift and telling you it's either not up to standard, or not marketable, or whatever excuse was used to jettison 95% of the manuscripts that came their way.
I edit as I go but also return to edit later. I like to let my work sit awhile and then read over it again to be sure the flow sounds right to my ear.
by Christin Sander 8 years ago
Why is it easier to edit the writing of others than our own?I've noticed that if I am working on an editing assignment; I can easily spot mistakes and fix them. When I edit my own, even after taking a break after writing it; it can be difficult to see and hear my own mistakes. The...
by Lena Kovadlo 12 years ago
How do you go about editing your writing?After you've written something (be it an article, a fiction piece, a short story, a blog, a book, etc.) how do you go about editing it? What is the process that you utilize to get your work to be the best it can be? Do you get others involved in helping you...
by Dana Ayres 9 years ago
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by Laura Deibel 14 years ago
Do you spend much time re-editing your published hubs? I wonder if my perfectionism is a waste.
by Rhys Baker 10 years ago
How should you edit your own work for publication?Also, are there any differences between editing for online publication, blogs, and physical publication.
by Billie Kelpin 11 years ago
How do you stop from eating while writing?So I just went to the refrigerator for the 3rd time this morning. I guess I think that's where the inspiration is kept! Help, how do you stop this insanity
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