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Description:
How do you know when it's time to switch from the writing mode to the editing mode? What even is the difference between them? In this episode I share a different way to think about this that allows us the freedom to move from one to the other with ease.
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You are listening to The Novel Writing Podcast, Episode 153
I'm your host, Colleen Mitchell. Grab a cup, cozy up, and let's get to writing!
Writing vs. Editing Mindset
Today's episode addresses a common question: how do you switch from a writing mindset to an editing mindset? Or, how do you know when it’s time to turn off "writing mode" and enter "editing mode"?
Many writers, especially those coming out of the first draft, struggle with distinguishing between these two modes. I discussed this a few months ago during a Coaching & Critique group session and wanted to bring some key insights over here.
Editing is Still Writing
If you take away one thing from today’s episode, it’s this: you never fully "turn off" writing mode when you start editing, because edits and rewrites still use your writing muscles. I imagine writing and editing as two ends of a spectrum between creation and improvement.
The only time you’re fully at either end is when you start a brand new draft (100% creation mode) or send your book off for formatting (100% improvement mode). At any point between first draft and publishing, you’re somewhere along this spectrum.
Moving Along the Creation-Improvement Spectrum
In a first draft, most of your focus will be on creation—99% creation, with 1% improvement for typos, obvious plot holes, or notes for yourself. But as you go through multiple drafts, particularly with professional edits, you shift along the spectrum toward improvement. This shift often happens for me when I’m changing a subplot or reworking a large part of the story.
Closer to the beginning of a draft, I’m deeply in creation mode. Closer to publication, I’m in improvement mode. At the very end of improvement mode, I’m accepting or rejecting proofreading changes—by that point, nothing new is created, and it’s final publishing stages.
Avoiding "Stewing" While Writing
When distinguishing writing from editing, ask yourself how much you’re going back to fix things. It’s typically best to avoid stewing over making sentences, scenes, or chapters "better" in the first draft, as this can both slow you down and often lead to changes later anyway. For many writers, finishing a draft and facing the editing process can feel intimidating, especially if it’s your first time.
Rewriting vs. Editing
In my view, most of editing is actually rewriting. It’s only during copyedits and proofreading that the book goes through line-by-line edits that can be accepted or rejected. When Halie does developmental edits, she focuses on suggestions for structural improvements without changing individual words or phrases. So it’s helpful to think of editing as a paid review process, while rewriting is the work you handle directly.
Since rewriting is simply writing with a different focus, it’s a lot less intimidating.
Finding Your System
As I tell authors in our Coaching & Critique group, it might take a few drafts or even a few books to find your own style for moving between creation and improvement modes. What matters is that you develop a system that works for you—and that means allowing it to get messy.
So embrace the mess!
And happy writing.
That's it for today's episode! Thanks for joining me, and remember, the first draft is supposed to be garbage.
Show Notes
Dive into the first episode of the Novel Writing Podcast with your host Colleen and her sometimes-guest Halie Fewkes Damewood! Here, we give you the gist of who we are, what we do, and what you can expect from this podcast.
What to do next…
Halie & Colleen are both authors! Find their books below:
Secrets of the Tally, by Halie Fewkes Damewood
The Chronicles of Talahm, by Colleen Mitchell
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