The writing process consists of several steps: pre-writing (reading, collecting and analysing data, thinking), drafting, reviewing, revising, editing, and proofing (often with multiple loops within this process). Combining any of these steps can be false economy – they require different skills and perspectives. Editing your work as you go can block your creative process. Approaching each step in turn can save you time and lead to better content.
Betty Flowers (1981) talks about adopting different personas in the writing process – ‘madman, architect, carpenter, judge’. The first (‘madman‘) relates to drafting where you write quickly and fluidly to get your ideas down on paper. An approach using ‘free writing’ can be very helpful to do this. The second (‘architect‘) relates to shaping the structure and content. The third (‘carpenter‘) relates more to reviewing and revising, strengthening sentences, detail and flow. The fourth (‘judge‘) is the critical role of editing – not creating.
Separating the drafting and editing process is key to being productive. You might do this by allowing time between the two steps, writing and editing in a different place (for example, editing in the library), or literally wearing a different hat. You don’t necessarily need an editor – you just need to take on the persona of a judge.
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