Write more when you separate planning, writing and editing

Top 70 Writing Tips To Help You To Write More

I've just been planning a week's worth of posts for my Web writing blog.

When I plan, I develop each post's title, the points, I want to make, and the takeaway I want the reader to get from the post. Planning is easy, and I don't think about it too much. I'm happy with whatever I write, because I know I can change it later.

Tomorrow, or the day after, I'll write the posts. Again, I won't think about it too much, because this is just a draft. I'll just write, covering the points I made in the planning phase.

The day after that, I'll edit the posts, so that they're ready to be added to the blog.

Writing is a process - take it step by step

All the writing you do is a process. When you separate the stages of the process, not only will your writing improve, but you'll also write more. Stress and procrastination are eliminated, because you're not putting any pressure on yourself.

I'm completely relaxed in the planning and writing stages. No critical thinking is necessary or allowed. I accept whatever nonsense I spill onto the computer screen: I'm using my creative right brain.

In the final stage, the editing process, I'm critical. This is a left-brained process. It's quick. I trim the posts, rearrange paragraphs; change the title. I may add a paragraph or two, to clarify the point I want to make in each post.

Here's the thing: often, I have no idea what POINT I want to make in the planning and writing phases. I just accept that the point is there, and that I'll uncover it in the editing phase, if I haven't discovered it earlier.

If you're finding writing difficult, it's because you're not taking the writing in stages, and are trying to edit when you should be planning or just writing.

Try writing in stages: planning, writing, and finally editing. When you accept that writing is a process, with clearly defined stages, you'll write more, and you'll enjoy writing too.

Discover the writing process in my ebook "Top 70 Writing Tips To Help You To Write More."

Technorati Tags: be more productive