Some writers prefer editing to writing from scratch because they dread the blank page. They'd much prefer to have a bunch of words to start from.

And there are others who find writing easy, but then when it comes to editing they struggle to dive in, spend hours trying to make their writing perfect, or they constantly start over.

In this How Women Write Podcast episode, I dive into the process of intuitive editing, sharing my advice and strategies to make this sometimes challenging part of the writing process much easier.

I specifically recorded this episode during the waning phase of the moon because this is the best time to focus on editing (or if you have a menstrual cycle, try editing during your luteal phase). If you experiment with editing during this phase, you might notice a difference in your energy levels and focus compared to other times of the month.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

• Suggestions for overcoming the anxiety often associated with editing, especially if you've had negative experiences with red pen-wielding teacher in the past.
• Editing is a skill: It's totally different from writing, so we approach it with a different mindset. We're refining existing words, not creating new ones.
• How to work your edits in layers: Start with a light edit and revise the obvious stuff, like typos and punctuation, and then move on to more substantial revisions, like adding personality, emotion, and a consistent tone.
• Practical editing and proofreading tips to help you become your own best editor
• A powerful prompt to help you know what your writing needs before you finalize and publish

Intuitive editing will help you unlearn rigid writing habits from school and corporate environments. Plus, you'll be able to break down the editing process into manageable layers.

I'm so excited for you to take these tips and strategies to give you the confidence to get your drafts out there.

Links:

• 03. The Surrendered First Draft Is the Key to Your Authentic Writing Voice

• 02: Co-Creating with Nature's Rhythms: Writing with the Moon

• NaNoWriMo alternative

• Intuitive Writing: The Remedy for Writer's Block and the Secret to Authentic Communication

• Power Thesaurus

• Grammarly

• ProWritingAid

Timestamps:

00:00 How Women Write Podcast Introductions

00:07 Writing with Nature's Rhythms

00:55 The Energetic Qualities of the Moon Phases

02:11 Editing Tips and Techniques

02:30 Overcoming the Fear of Editing

05:09 Unlearning Academic & Corporate Writing Habits

07:45 The Surrendered First Draft (SFD)

10:03 Common Editing Challenges

12:24 Getting Past the Fear of Publishing

20:21 Practical Editing Tips

24:03 Making Your Writing Approachable & Conversational

25:20 Embracing Intuitive Editing

28:49 Layered Editing Techniques

32:25 Practical Editing Tips

39:58 Final Editing Checklist

44:02 Conclusion and Encouragement to Publish