Always be editing
Editing is a vital part of the creative process. It might even be the most important part, as it’s when you take something rough and turn it into something beautiful.
I find editing a real challenge, because it can lack the excitement of forging the words in the first place. It’s something I’m going to be doing a lot more of in 2025 and beyond, going back to my older projects and smartening them up for release.
Don't worry about it being perfect
In the early 2010s I was working at a software company. It was there that I learned about ‘agile’ working methods, which in 2023 tends to provoke a fair bit of eye rolling.
Rewriting and editing and rewriting
I write and publish as I go, one chapter per week, and have worked this way since about 2015. It works well for me, bringing me back to the table and making sure I get the words down. It doesn’t seem to matter if there’s a handful of people reading online or thousands - either way, the box is ticked in my brain and I stay productive.
I really don't like editing
First up, I know that editing makes written work better. Exponentially better, in fact. I fully acknowledge this fact, and have seen it in my own work that has benefited from multiple revisions. The problem is that I find the process excruciatingly dull.