Ask HN: How do you avoid over-editing yourself when writing?

defrost · on Sept 20, 2023

Different things work for different people.

Do you read your own work aloud, do you dictate to speech to text?

Code examples and mathematics don't work altogether too well that way but the prose portions of your articles might benefit from changing to the habit of drafting them | polishing them via 'natural' speech.

Horses for courses, as mentioned already, but I often find that talking through material already dot point mapped out causes me to infill in a relitively natural and efficient manner.

DamonHD · on Sept 20, 2023

1) The general "don't let perfect be the enemy of good (enough)" applies.

2) Give yourself a time limit. Yep, "time boxing" in business jargon.

3) Make sure that you have written (almost) all the content before allowing yourself much detailed editing. Then at least you can stop with something decent at almost any point, see (2). That "already ready to ship" state relaxes me somewhat.

(I have my own site(s), and I used to edit for a living, briefly.)

qwery · on Sept 20, 2023

Sometimes I make myself write the first thing that comes into my head (in e.g. a comment on HN) and just post it. As a form of training. Compelled to edit every sentence so far? OK. Isn't particularly insightful? OK. Doesn't make sense? OK.

pr07ecH70r · on Sept 20, 2023

I wouldn't say avoid. I write freelance articles, even sotries some times. Also have a blog. I don't avoid it. Sometimes happens. I just keep and extensive article "version-control" and can "roll-back" easily.