Write First, Edit Later

"Write first, edit later" is a cornerstone of advice for writers. Getting the words down using the "creator" part of your brain is the most important first step in completing a written work. If you let the "critic" part of your brain get involved too early, you'll likely become blocked and discouraged and may never complete the work. It's important to get that first draft completed, no matter how awful it may seem as you're writing it. Just get it written. There'll be plenty of time for the critic to do its job later. Does that mean you can't do any editing as you go? No, that would be unrealistic. Minor editing as you go is ok as long as it doesn't interrupt the flow of your writing. As soon as you begin to feel the flow being interrupted, you should stop editing and return to freewriting. This means following the flow of your thoughts through association, going from one idea to the next without evaluating each transition. It involves trusting your creative mind and letting it take you where it wants to go. Don't judge that part of your mind. Let it have its free play. Then, when the draft is completed, you can go back and find out how much editing you need to do. You may be surprised to find that your writing is much better than you originally thought. Learning to trust your creative process will help you not only be a more productive writer but a more effective writer as well.