Stop Writing and Editing at the Same Time (It's Killing Your Content)
The neuroscience-backed method that saved my content career
You know that feeling when you sit down to write and suddenly your brain goes blank?
Or worse - when you've written something brilliant at 2am, only to wake up and think "what was I thinking?" before deleting everything?
I spent 3 years stuck in this cycle. Writing, hating it, deleting it. Repeat.
Then I discovered something that changed everything: I was trying to do two incompatible jobs at the same time.
Here's what nobody tells you about writing:
Writing and editing are completely different skills
that require opposite mental states.
The War Inside Every Writer's Head
Most people struggle with writing because they confuse it with editing.
They sit down to write and immediately start judging every word. They worry about grammar while trying to form thoughts. They think about the reader's reaction before they've even figured out what they want to say.
The result?
Blank pages that mock you
Half-finished drafts in a graveyard folder
That familiar frustration that makes you question if you're "just not a writer"
But here's the thing: You're not bad at writing. You're just trying to do two jobs at once.
It's like trying to drive a car while simultaneously rebuilding the engine. You'll either crash or never move.
Yet that's exactly what we do when we write a sentence, immediately judge it, rewrite it, judge it again, then delete the whole paragraph in frustration.
Sound familiar?
In this guide, I'll show you:
Why your brain literally can't write and edit simultaneously (and the neuroscience behind it)
The "Two-Mode System" that professional writers use but rarely talk about
Specific techniques to capture ideas without self-censoring
How to edit like a pro without destroying your message
A practical workflow you can implement today
Once I understood this, my output tripled. My writing got clearer. And most importantly, I actually started enjoying the process.
Let's dive in.
Part 1: Writing - The Art of Capturing Raw Thoughts
Writing is simply transferring thoughts from your mind onto the page.
That's it. Not crafting perfect sentences. Not impressing anyone. Just capturing what's in your head before it disappears.
Why We Get This Wrong
The #1 mistake: Writing as if someone's already reading over your shoulder.
I see this constantly. People sit down to write and immediately think:
"Is this good enough?"
"Will people judge this?"
"What if this sounds stupid?"
"Should I use a different word?"
Your creative brain shuts down. The ideas stop flowing. You're left staring at a cursor that blinks like it's judging you.
The Neuroscience Nobody Talks About
Here's what's actually happening in your brain:
When you write creatively, you're using your default mode network: the part of your brain that makes connections, explores ideas, and thinks abstractly.
When you edit, you're using your executive attention network: the part that judges, analyzes, and critiques.
These networks literally suppress each other. You can't use both at full capacity simultaneously.
It's not a willpower problem. It's biology.
The Fix: Freewriting (But Actually Free)
Everyone recommends freewriting. Almost nobody does it correctly.
Here's how to actually freewrite:
1. Set a timer for 10 minutes
Non-negotiable. Your brain needs boundaries.
Write
Fingers moving the entire time
If stuck, write "I don't know what to write" until ideas come
No stopping to think, no self-censoring. Just write.
Zero editing allowed
No backspace key
No fixing typos
No rereading what you wrote
Turn off spell check if needed
Follow every tangent
Random thought about lunch? Write it
Weird connection to childhood? Include it
Your brain is making connections, trust the process
What this looks like in practice:
okay so writing is hard because we judge ourselves wait that's not right. but actually maybe it is because when I think about writing I immediately. think about who's reading and then I freeze up like that time in college when I had to present and completely blanked but that's different or is it because both times I was worried about judgment and...Messy? Yes. Productive? Absolutely.
Advanced Technique: The Voice Memo Method
Can't turn off your inner editor while typing? Try this:
Open voice memos on your phone
Talk about your topic for 5 minutes
Transcribe it (use Otter.ai or any LLMs)
Edit the transcript
Speaking bypasses the editing impulse. You can't backspace spoken words.
I know top creators who write entire newsletters while walking their dog.
Part 2: Editing - The Art of Reader Empathy
Editing means stepping into your reader's shoes and asking:
Would I understand this if I knew nothing about the topic?
Why We Get Editing Wrong
The #1 mistake: Editing for yourself instead of your reader.
I see this constantly. People finish writing and immediately start:
Tweaking words to sound smarter
Keeping every clever phrase they wrote
Polishing grammar while ignoring clarity
Adding complex sentences to seem sophisticated
Your reader doesn't care about your vocabulary. They care about getting value without working for it.
The Mental Switch: From Writer to Reader
The hardest part of editing is the mental shift.
You must completely forget you wrote this. Pretend you're seeing it for the first time, skeptical and busy, looking for any excuse to stop reading.
Brutal? Yes. Necessary? Absolutely.
The Three-Reader Method
When I edit, I become three different people:
Reader 1: The Busy Scanner (30 seconds)
Only reads headlines and bold text
Makes instant judgments
Needs immediate value proposition
Reader 2: The Interested Skeptic (90 seconds)
Reads introduction and key points
Questions your credibility
Looks for proof and examples
Reader 3: The Committed Learner (Full read)
Wants deep understanding
Needs clear action steps
Values comprehensive coverage
Edit for all three. Most people only edit for Reader 3.
When to Stop Editing
You could edit forever. Don't.
Stop when:
You're changing words back to previous versions
The changes are getting smaller
You've done three full passes
Your gut says it's ready
Perfect doesn't exist. Published does.
The Editing Mindset That Changes Everything
Editing isn't about making your writing perfect.
It's about making your reader's experience effortless.
Every cut, every clarification, every restructure should serve one goal:
Help the reader get value with minimal effort.
That's it. That's the entire game.
When you truly understand this, editing becomes less about ego and more about service.
And ironically, that's when your writing becomes truly powerful.
That’s it for now—more soon!
Catch you next time,
Creator of LinkedIn Audience Building for AI/ML Engineers
PS — If you’re finding value in The Tech Audience Accelerator, would you mind forwarding this edition to a friend? It only takes a few seconds, but helps me reach more tech creators and builders like you.
And if you want to be an even better friend, you can share The Tech Audience Accelerator by clicking the button below. Just let me know if you do, so I can send you a thank-you bonus.
I’d also love your feedback to make The Tech Audience Accelerator even better. Please drop a comment with:
Ideas you want to see in future editions
Your biggest takeaway from this one
I read and reply to every single message!