Recently, I saw a piece of art at a Hobby Lobby or something that said, “Write without fear. Edit without mercy.“. It stuck with me. Not just because it sounded bold, but because it captured a truth that every writer faces. Writing and editing are two completely different mindsets, and the sooner you learn to separate them, the stronger your writing and writing process becomes.

Writing Without Fear

There is no way around it. Fear kills creativity. It second-guesses every sentence before it even makes it to the page. It whispers, That’s not good enough. No one will read this. You should just stop now.

If you listen to that voice, you’ll never finish anything.

Writing without fear means giving yourself permission to write terribly at first. It means putting words on the page without worrying if they’re perfect. First drafts are supposed to be messy. They’re supposed to be full of half-formed ideas, awkward sentences, and parts that don’t quite fit. The goal isn’t to write something flawless. The goal is to get the story out of your head and onto the page.

A writer who is afraid to write badly is a writer who never finishes anything. You have to trust that fixing the mess comes later.

Editing Without Mercy

Once the words are on the page, the real work begins. Editing is where the book comes to life, but it’s also where writers struggle to let go.

Editing without mercy means cutting what doesn’t serve the story. It means taking out the parts that slow the reader or the story down, even if you love them. It means refining sentences, reworking structure, and making the hard choices that take your story from good to great.

This is where you become ruthless with your own work. If a sentence doesn’t add to the story, cut it. If a chapter drags, tighten it. If a character isn’t pulling their weight, reconsider their role. Maybe even kill them off. (We’re just kidding of course. Unless we’re not.) 

Good editing isn’t about making small tweaks. It’s about shaping your writing into something powerful. The best books aren’t just written well. They’re edited well.

No matter where you are in the process, we hope that this helps. Repeat this phrase to yourself. Write without fear. Edit without mercy. 

If you need help in this process. We’re always here to help. Schedule a consultation with us and we can help you! 

Keep writing.