There are lots of enemies we have to battle as writers. One of the most ferocious ones is self-editing. Self-editing is the tendency to edit as you go, to clean up and try to perfect your writing while you’re creating it.
The big problem with self-editing is that you’re trying to use your right and left brain at the same time. The right brain focuses on creative activities, and the left brain focuses on logic and reason. The reason you get stuck when trying to create a draft and edit it at the same time is because these two sides are constantly fighting with each other.
This can really hold you up when you’re trying to finish a blog post, an article, or another piece of shorter content. But it’s disastrous when you try to self-edit as you write a book.
A book is hard enough as it is. It requires stamina and focus, typically for a few months until you get that first draft finished. Once you get that first draft done, you feel an amazing sense of accomplishment and motivation because you’ve gotten over a huge hurdle.
So, the goal is to get a first draft done quickly. The best way to do this is to write a “vomit” draft. Despite the horrible imagery, it’s extremely effective at giving you speed and momentum. A vomit draft is the very first draft of a book (and by the way, it also applies to shorter pieces).
After you figure out your message, your audience and the problem you’re solving for them, and the book outline, you get the first draft done as fast as you can. It’s called a vomit draft because it’s where you put all your ideas. You’re just getting the material out there.
When you do a vomit draft, don’t worry about being messy or imperfect. This is the place to just get the material out there so you have something to work with.
When writing a vomit draft, don’t edit as you go. Just get it onto the page and worry about the clean-up later. As they say, you can’t edit something you haven’t written. So, make it your first goal to write, then edit later.
Write a vomit draft as fast as you can, then go back and clean it up. Don’t edit too much as you go. Separate the right and left brain activities so you can let your creativity flow on the first draft, then let your internal editor take over on the next draft.
Writing a book is like building a house. First, you create a plan, then you create the framing. After that, you run utilities, put on the roof and siding, put up drywall, and lay flooring. You only paint when those things are done.
When you self-edit as you write, it’s like trying to paint before you’ve even put up the drywall. This is why so many writers feel that writing is difficult. Separate right and left brain activities, and you’ll have a much easier time.
Today’s Challenge: If you tend to self-edit as you write, is that holding you back from faster progress?