When Should We Edit?
By
Katy Kauffman
I’m
not sure how to turn it off. My internal editor is always on. Is yours? We try
to write, and bam! Our internal editor sounds the alarm. Is that a typo? Did
you make another run-on sentence? Does that even make sense?
So
here’s the question—should we wait to edit until the first draft is finished,
or should we edit as we go along? I think that every professional writer would
say, “Write your first draft to get your thoughts on paper. Don’t let editing
hold you back. Then go back and edit.” I’ve said that too, and I am practicing
it more than I used to. But it’s still hard.
A Combination That Works for Me
I’d
like to share with you my writing process. See what you think of the steps
below, and please know that my first drafts don’t always stay the way they pop
out. But the process I describe helps me to write with music from the
start. Instead of my usual first drafts sounding factual and distant,
writing this way helps me to write more with music—it’s infused with
emotion, insight, creativity, and the best takeaway for the reader.
The
following process (for Bible-based writing) satisfies the demands of my
internal editor and helps me make progress. Each paragraph is first written
from a feeling of inspiration and enough knowledge or research of my topic, and
then the editing kicks in.
Step
1: Write the first paragraph. This is
usually the beginning of the story that I’m using for the lead-in.
Step
2: Read the first paragraph, tweak
anything that’s obviously wrong, and write the second paragraph.
Step
3: Read the first two paragraphs, tweak
obvious things, and write the third paragraph. I keep reading everything I’ve
written so far, tweaking small things as I go, and continue writing until that
article or section is done.
Step
4: Read the whole thing, and see if the
flow of thought travels in a straight line and each paragraph is needed and
written well. At this point, I take out sentences, rearrange their order in the
paragraphs, or delete whole paragraphs.
Step
5: Read the whole thing again, adjust
what’s necessary, and give a copy to my critique buddy for an objective
opinion. At this point, I discover whether the first draft is a winner or if it
needs a rewrite.
Our
desire for excellent writing should never hold us back from trying. We can use
that drive to supply excellent work to editors, agents, magazines, and our own
blogs.
Writing
is a balance of art and rules. We write from inspiration, crafting stories and
messages that are painted on paper. For those works of art to be the most
appealing, we follow the rules of the craft. So as you write, yes, editing is
necessary. But it doesn’t have to hinder the beauty that will flow from your
pen or computer.
What
process do you use to write and edit? Share your thoughts in the comments
below, so we can hear from you.
(Photo courtesy of Microsoft 365.)
In
addition to online magazines, Katy’s writing can be found at CBN.com,
thoughts-about-God.com, and three blogs on writing. She loves to spend time
with family and friends, take acrylic painting classes online, and do yard work
in the morning sun. Connect with her at http://lighthousebiblestudies.com, and on Facebook
and Twitter.
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