Don’t Edit During Your First Draft – Discussion #1

Once again, thanks to Stacey for suggesting this discussion! Be sure to check out her blog!

So, this week’ discussion is about editing during your first draft. Now, I remember there being the idea that “you write with one part of your brain, and edit with the other”. I believe this to be true. However, I admit, I do edit whilst writing. When I wrote this post, I did edit when I made a mistake… But the effect of this on my writing is not a problem. I can still come up with ideas…

But what do you think? Should you edit whilst writing, should you edit on your first draft at all? Of course, a discussion can only occur if you comment with your views. So, go on, comment below!

Liam

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22 thoughts on “Don’t Edit During Your First Draft – Discussion #1”

kanundra January 12, 2013 at 2:12 pm

Personally I don’t think you should edit while you write. The ideas need to be let out first. Then edit. The whole process is much easier on a larger scale, rather than trying to think about all the ‘bad words’ or passive writing you churn out while doing it. There are also some programs out there which help, not just word…

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1. liamodell1 Post authorJanuary 12, 2013 at 5:08 pm
  
  Great ideas! Thanks for commenting! I agree, ideas need to be written down straight away, in case they are forgotten.
  
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Alex January 12, 2013 at 5:01 pm

I would say no editing until the first draft is complete. I think a majority of the cases of writers block are of writers editing too soon in their head, trying to be too perfect the first time. You don’t build a car by building the car, you build the frame, the engine, the interior, and the chassis. Writing is similar.

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1. liamodell1 Post authorJanuary 12, 2013 at 5:22 pm
  
  Thanks for commenting with your views – they’re great!
  
  I’ve never thought of that, and you’re right, writer’s block is mainly caused by a writer being over ambitious or seeking perfection…
  
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2. Stacey Haseleu January 13, 2013 at 5:18 am
  
  I like the way you explain this Alex…. I find that is often my problem – I have the perfect ideas in my head and instead of sitting down and letting them flow, I scrutinize every word choice until I become so frustrated I abandon my ideas… How frustrating!
  
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  1. liamodell1 Post authorJanuary 13, 2013 at 9:11 am
    
    Oh my… Thanks for sharing!
JackieP January 12, 2013 at 7:11 pm

I kind of edit as I write. Nothing major, just spelling and certain wording. As for major editing? No, I leave that for after I’m done or close to done. Or, I have someone else read what I write and edit for me. But I won’t read the edit till I’m done writing.

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1. liamodell1 Post authorJanuary 12, 2013 at 7:14 pm
  
  Exactly the same here. Minor spelling, grammar or wording I correct, but not massive paragraphs.
  
  Thanks for commenting!
  
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billyraychitwood1 January 12, 2013 at 9:34 pm

For me, editing has no special time — only when (and if) I catch a word, a phrase, and entire section that displeases me.

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1. liamodell1 Post authorJanuary 12, 2013 at 10:00 pm
  
  Interesting… Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
  
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Jill Weatherholt January 12, 2013 at 10:35 pm

For me, editing is better left after I get the first draft completed. This is why I enjoy participating in NaNoWriMo, there is no time to edit, you just need to write.

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1. liamodell1 Post authorJanuary 12, 2013 at 10:36 pm
  
  Absolutely. As well as the sense of achievement, you also get the joy – for some – that you have to edit next!
  
  Thanks for commenting and sharing your views!
  
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Richard Leonard January 13, 2013 at 12:57 am

I’ve always had the bad habit of editing during the first draft to the point where there was no first draft, there was just a final copy. I agree the two tasks should be very separate. Part of the reason I did NaNo was to try and break that habit. It worked for a month. Now I’m partly back into it but I have to consciously make an effort to not go back and endlessly fix things up.

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1. liamodell1 Post authorJanuary 13, 2013 at 9:11 am
  
  Thanks for sharing! Interesting, I agree, NaNoWriMo is so helpful, in so many ways…
  
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Stacey Haseleu January 13, 2013 at 5:23 am

Thanks for the shout out Liam, and for bringing this subject into discussion. I agree with many of the other posts; I find I’m guilty of editing throughput the initial writing process. Not sure what type of writing everyone is into, but do you find that this writing and editing simultaneously happens more frequently in creative, academic, or professional writing?

I’ve dabbled in all 3 genres and, surprisingly, I find I’m more inclined to edit and make the document perfect when it’s of a creative nature or academic subject. In professional writing, I seem to be able to get all my ideas out, then edit the document. Funny, I would think creative writing would lend itself more to the reckless spilling of ideas and editing afterwards…

Anyone have thoughts on this??

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1. liamodell1 Post authorJanuary 13, 2013 at 9:14 am
  
  You’re welcome! Thanks for sharing your views!
  
  To be honest, I think that it’s creative. I think academic, you do edit and write but some are ignore because most academic work is written work. Interesting question!
  
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sarahneeve January 13, 2013 at 9:30 pm

I do edit spelling mistakes whilst writing. However, I leave major editing after I’ve finished the first draft. On the other hand, I don’t see it as though people are striving for perfection if they tend to edit during the writing stage, if it’s their choice and the way they like to do it, who am I to say it’s wrong.

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1. liamodell1 Post authorJanuary 14, 2013 at 7:44 am
  
  Thanks for commenting! I agree, as I do the same, and you’re right, everyone has their own way of writing…
  
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picaffeine January 16, 2013 at 3:34 am

I finished my story’s first draft (at long last) and in the course of writing it, I didn’t do any major edits, aside from the occasional spelling/grammar ones and very minor details (like, deciding at by the last few chapters to change a previously mentioned stuffed bunny into a stuffed bear). After finishing it, I typed it all up, locked away my notebook (because for some reason I like writing first drafts by hand, even if they end up messy and still missing a lot of details), then saved my typed draft as version 1, and saved another as version 2.

The version 2 is what I’m currently editing, and it’s, well, amazing (for lack of a better term?) how much I feel like adding and taking away now that I can see what’s been written on a much larger scale. As of this moment, I’m toying with the idea of adding a prologue, which just sprung up after I read the entirety of my first draft, as I felt it was something that was missing.

So I don’t think there’s a hard and fast rule… but that’s what I’ve been doing.

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1. liamodell1 Post authorJanuary 16, 2013 at 7:15 am
  
  Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
  
  Wow! Sounds awesome, congratulations!
  
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Quiller February 8, 2013 at 12:05 am

This is my biggest downfall: editing WHILE I free write. Which isn’t free writing at all. I am currently taking an elective course, “Writing Fiction.” DO NOT EDIT was one of the first wrist-slapping lessons that was mentioned. Darn it. I am trying my best to wait until I get the thought down first. It has always annoyed me that I do this, so I am glad I am finally taking the bull by the horns. Great blog post!

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1. liamodell1 Post authorFebruary 8, 2013 at 7:03 am
  
  Thanks for commenting and sharing your views!
  
  Ah, I see. I think that there are different methods preferred by different people…
  
  Thanks!
  
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