How many times do you rewrite or edit your writings?

[osho]

When I write poetry or prose I never rewrite them. My poems will have many grammatical mistakes which can be ruled out through keen observations. All my writings, both poetry and prose were presented as they were written at first without writing or rectifying anything.
Everyone has a different style of writing and sharing our thoughts will indeed widen our horizon of thinking about writing and of course we can learn from the experience of others. Sometimes our own mistakes will be too much expensive and if we learn from others we can save ourselves from the price we have to pay for it

[cafolini]

I don't write outlines except for a few notes on subjects I want to deal with as a reminder. I don't correct anything until I finish, and some people call this a stream of conciousness. But as I see it, every writing is a stream of such nature. So I wouldn't get into a schism regarding that.
What's imperative to me is the editing after the product is finished. Firstly, my own editing to get rid as far as I can see of what I call impertinent garbage that does not fit artistically. But after I finish with that, I need a good editor to finish the product, because as a writer I can go over and over the product without being able to stop to consider the totality. I am trapped in my own prejudices unconciously, inevitably, because in the first place, the writing is more and more compelling and I get lost emotionally inside my product (as it should be for any writer). So, any good piece of writing should be edited by a specialist in doing that. So, to conclude, writing without a good editor is a no-no to me, and I wish people would take heed of what I'm saying: without an editor to finish the product it's unlikely it will ever be the best that can be done.

[cacian]

I often require the few taping of the odd syntax and spelling. If I let myself I would completely write the way I want not one dictionary in sight.
I would follow my nose. And then I would write to mix the odd language to another and create a fusion of senses through sound and aesthetic visual. I like to have patterns in words formation a bit like a painting you would admire a piece through its looks feels. I can be quite pleasing to the naked eye.
I also try and write as fast I can. So I would write on a daily basis but very short snaps. I would also train towards writing under a guidelines of few minutes to half hour maximum by which the piece is ready to be read.
That is what I do. I however dislike more then 200 long stories. I have not got the concentration for it. :)

[Jassy Melson]

I usually do three or four rewrites--be it a short story or a poem or a play.

[Lokasenna]

I write very slowly, but as a result what I produce is usually very close to the finished product. That said, I'm a devil for tinkering with my work - I'll often go back to an old piece and alter some things.

[PeterL]

As many times as necessary.

[The Atheist]

As many time as necessary.

I'm gutted!

I was going to make that precise comment and there it is, a bare hour and a bit before me.

Gutted, I tells ya.

(although, to be fair and reasonable, I would have said "times")

[cacian]

The next question osho I was thinking about was this: how often do give up on a piece and never go back to it?

[PeterL]

I'm gutted!

I was going to make that precise comment and there it is, a bare hour and a bit before me.

Gutted, I tells ya.

(although, to be fair and reasonable, I would have said "times")

It was the obvious reply to that question. I cannot imagine any writer making any other reply.

It was a mere typo that has been corrected.

[tailor STATELY]

Agree w PeterL "As many times as necessary", and Lokasenna "I'll often go back to an old piece and alter some things."

I post my poetry on my website with the disclaimer: This is a dynamic document; and being such, my words are ever under my scrutiny and subject to edit. I find spelling errors on occasion... that were not done on purpose. Yesterday I edited the word amoungst/amongst and found 5 such offenses in my master Index file on my PC; but have yet to upload the edit(s) [and recent poems] to my site's server, due to the server being down inordinately long [read: months (sigh)].

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[hannah_arendt]

I rewrite, as Peter has already said, as many times as necessary however I don`t like it. I have wanted to create my publuic profile on facebook but unfortunetely I don`t have time for it now:(

[PeterL]

I rewrite, as Peter has already said, as many times as necessary however I don`t like it. I have wanted to create my public profile on facebook but unfortunately I don`t have time for it now:(

Yes, public profiles; I love writing that kind of fiction.

Whether one likes editing is of no consequence. It has to be done and continued until the writing is as it should be; whatever that may be.

[Charles Darnay]

When I write poetry or prose I never rewrite them. My poems will have many grammatical mistakes which can be ruled out through keen observations. All my writings, both poetry and prose were presented as they were written at first without writing or rectifying anything.
Everyone has a different style of writing and sharing our thoughts will indeed widen our horizon of thinking about writing and of course we can learn from the experience of others. Sometimes our own mistakes will be too much expensive and if we learn from others we can save ourselves from the price we have to pay for it

Sure everyone has a different style, but sloppy writing is sloppy writing - and not editing your work is sloppy. There is something to be said for a pure free-flow of ideas - this is wonderful for your own personal development. But when you put out works with the intent of others reading them - when you offer someone a piece of your imagination - it should be presentable. Just as you wouldn't have much luck walking into an interview and handing your potential employer a resume written in pink crayon - so does a lack of care reflect in your writings (as I have noticed here).

[Calidore]

you wouldn't have much luck walking into an interview and handing your potential employer a resume written in pink crayon

On the other hand,


My poems will have many grammatical mistakes which can be ruled out through keen observations.

...implies that any employer worth working for would be willing and able to look past the errors on the surface to the substance beneath. Who wants a shallow boss anyway?

[Adolescent09]

I've never really edited anything I've written, unless it was a typo.

[Shaman_Raman]

I've never really edited anything I've written, unless it was a typo.

I second that, unless there's obvious grammatical errors, I don't do too much revising. But isn't that the whole purpose of peer review? We get our ideas on revising the content from others feedback, I feel anyway.