Danny, thanks for taking the time to share your insights on the writing process. I always appreciate the opportunity to learn about the ways in which others think about, plan, and execute their writing. Although we often share things in common, each one of us has our own understanding of, and approach to, the writing process.

In this context, I actually disagree with most of what you say in this piece — not because it’s necessarily wrong or misguided but merely because it’s the opposite of how I write. I always edit as I write. I make sure every sentence I put to paper or screen is (nearly) as good as it can be before I move on to the next sentence. 95% is my target: if I can be 95% happy with something I’ve written, I’ll gladly leave the remaining 5% for the final edit at the end of the process.

If an idea pops into my head that I don’t want to forget then, sure, I’ll jot it down quickly and then get back to what I was working on previously. What I tend not to do, however, is abandon entire sections. For example, I see the introduction as being one of the most important elements of a given piece of writing, and forcing myself to work through the struggle I often experience whilst trying to write the introduction is essential to actualizing my ability to make sense of my ideas and to present them in the clearest and most thoughtful way possible.

I understand why you’re adamant about not allowing the ‘inner editor’ to disrupt the creativity and flow of unencumbered writing. I think your advice is appropriate for many writers. Nevertheless, editing as I go is an essential dynamic of my own writing, and it has served me very well to this point. This seems to suggest some aspects of the writing process are not only open to interpretation but also dependent on the personality and workflow of the individual writer.

Cheers :)