The writing process can look different for every writer and there’s no right way to create written work. Some writers prefer to write a certain number of pages or words per day, others may focus more on how much time they spend writing rather than how much progress they make. When you write, you must focus on what works best for you. One part of writing, the editing process, can be particularly challenging. Editing your work can be even more difficult if you try to make significant changes before your work is finished. While this approach may work for some, many writers find that editing a completed work is much easier.
The downside of editing unfinished work
Editing work before it’s finished can distract you and make you lose your train of thought. Once work is complete, you may find that those changes you initially wanted to make aren’t necessary or you may decide to make different changes. With a completed work, you can take into account the entire piece at once, which simplifies the editing process.
Simplifying the editing process
Some authors choose to edit their own work while others hire an editor. Hiring an editor can make the process easier due to their objectivity. But if you prefer to edit your work yourself, consider breaking it down into smaller pieces. You have to be able to step back from your work and look at it from a neutral viewpoint. Focus first on content edits and organization issues. Look at formatting, paragraphs, and sentence structure. Consider using an advanced editing tool that helps find spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes that you might miss when reading through your work.
Editing is an important step in the writing process. Many writers are tempted to edit as they write, which can slow down the writing process and lead to distraction. It’s often more productive to complete your work, then focus on editing. Whether you hire an editor or decide to edit your work yourself, waiting until your work is complete simplifies the editing process and allows you to focus on making the changes needed to improve your work.
