Your Only Job as a Writer: Just Write AND Let Everything Else Wait!
Why you should focus on writing and let editing and ideas wait their turn.
I. Introduction
One of the biggest mistakes writers make is not separating the different roles they need to play.
It took me a while to understand this, but the only job of a writer is to write.
Everything required for a post to be ready for publishing (brainstorming, drafting, and editing) should happen at different times, in separate sessions. One session for writing and other sessions for the activities that come before publishing.
This article will help you understand why separating these roles is crucial when writing online.
II. The Two Roles of a Writer
I want you to think of yourself as two different people:
You—the person who writes, and you—the person who handles everything else, especially editing. These roles are completely distinct and are often in conflict. They can’t fully coexist at the same moment. I mean, they can, but only if you let them.
This is why many writers feel like they are out of creativity or are facing writer’s block.
The key idea behind this separation is that you, as a writer, need to let your creative side flow freely without the critical eye of you, the editor, or the person who worries about ideas.
Before you ask, yes, editing is necessary. But it’s a completely different act from writing.
III. You Need Separate Space and Time for These Two Roles
To make this clearer, think about the sun and the moon.
The sun and the moon each have their own time, space, and energy to do what they were made for. The sun (writer) has a specific time to rise. It shines when it's up and gives warmth without interruption.
The same goes for the moon.
Everything the moon does, it does separately from the sun. It rises and reflects in its own time. They never “interrupt” each other. When it happens, we have an eclipse which is beautiful to watch, but that’s something rare. It doesn’t happen regularly.
It might not be the perfect metaphor, but I think you get the idea.
IV. What Do You Have to Do? (Practically)
This concept is too easy not to implement.
You only need separate sessions. This is how I do it:
A brainstorming/outline/drafting session
A writing session
An editing session
Sometimes, I combine the first and last sessions.
But the best results happen when the sessions are all separated.
You can do all of these on the same day, and that’s okay.
But I have found it works best if you do the first session a day before.
For example, let’s say tomorrow I want to write a post, but I don’t have any ideas yet.
Before I go to sleep, I will brainstorm some ideas, pick one I want to write about the next day, create an outline for it, and jot down some main ideas.
I leave it there.
This should take no more than 10 minutes.
The next day, when I start my writing session, I already have a starting point.
Why does it work?
No blank page
I don’t waste time and energy coming up with an idea.
I use my energy to write and create
Once I am done with writing, I move on to the editing session.
Again, this should take no more than 10 minutes.
The best results also come when you leave the draft for a while and then return to it with fresh eyes.
V. The Ideal Routine
The ideal "routine" for this method is when you complete these sessions on the same day but for different posts.
Let’s apply this over two days to post two different blog posts.
The day before the two days:
Brainstorm/outline/draft.
On the first day:
I return to the draft with fresh eyes, edit it, and then post it.
I prepare the next idea: brainstorm/outline/draft.
The draft stays overnight.
On the second day:
I return to the draft with fresh eyes and then continue the process.
Once you get into the flow, this becomes second nature.
It might sound complicated, but it’s just about separating the two roles: writer and editor.
The key idea is to allow time for both roles. Allow time for writing as an act of creation and expression and time for editing and brainstorming as acts of refining and improving.
VI. Conclusion
The takeaway I want you to leave this post is:
Your only job as a writer is to write—don’t get distracted by the pressure to edit or brainstorm at the same time.
Think about yourself as two separate persons in this context of writing online.
Give both persons a specific time and place to do their job.
Work in separate sessions: drafting - drafting - editing.
Once you get into a flow, you might find the ideal routine out there.
What can you do starting from now?
Be a writer and then the editor.
Try and test the method I wrote about.
Or allow me to guide you.
What is more important? Writing or editing? Let me know in the comments!
If you find this useful, let others know about it by sharing and restacking it. It takes only 5 seconds to do it. I would appreciate it!
Also, stay tuned for the next post where I will share a few Simple Tips to Write Faster Without Sacrificing Quality.
No wonder you're doing great on everything, Lucian. How to be you?😁
You are awesome produtive writer.:)
Thank you for sharing :)