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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/30430
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Editing as you write isn't bad but it's not good either. As you are well aware it stops your creative thoughts to switch to the more logical thoughts for editing. Fixing things like a typo or rewriting a sentence that maybe wasn't written as well as you would have liked isn't bad. But sitting there and trying to formulate the best sentence and getting stuck doing that with each word on only your first draft is a bit excessive.

I like to write in chapters. Once that chapter is done, I go back and read it, edit it, fix it, add things, delete things. I fix it to a point that would be acceptable for a first draft. The key of a draft is to get the main idea out, not provide a well polished passage.

It would be like sketching out a painting with a pencil, but expecting the pencil to make the painting look finished without adding any paint/color. Need to take it one step at a time. Slow down and go stage by stage through the writing process. Everyone may have a different writing style, but the stages are still there for all.

Put your ideas out, go back re-read when you hit a chapter or stopping point. Fix any MAJOR issues and then continue writing. Worry about the minor tweaks when you have finished the draft. Yes you will find poorly written sentences, yes you will find many short sentences instead of polished prose. That is the point of a draft though, to get the thoughts out.

Original score: 3