I’m not a writer, but I do write a lot. I love writing. I do not like research.
As far as real writers are concerned, I’m sure there is a wide variety of preferences. Some enjoy research. Some enjoy writing. Some enjoy editing.
I can tell you that if it weren’t for editing, I might have the chance of becoming a writer. But I won’t do it. I can’t stand it. I like the flow of writing. Editing is the exact opposite of flow. It starts and stops and goes back and forth and around in endless circles and you never get it right. It just isn’t worth it to me.
I love the process of writing. I love just sitting here and starting with an idea and then letting the words flow and flow out my fingers. Usually it’s not so fast my fingers can’t keep up with it. Occasionally, I do start thinking too fast, and then catching up with my thoughts can become a start and stop thing like editing. That ruins it for me.
According to @Jeruba‘s post, this is why I am not a serious writer. I write for the pleasure of it. I write to see what I’m thinking. I write in vague hope that someone might be interested in what I have to say, but really, I’m the main audience for what I write, and only in the moment I write it. Once I write it, it has completed it’s job. I usually forget what I wrote almost instantly and if people refer to something I said, I can rarely remember it. It might be good or it might be bad, but I don’t think about that. Once in a while someone will come to me and tell me they liked a bit of something I wrote and that brings a bit of a pink flush to my cheeks and glow to my tummy and it does help make it worthwhile. But really, not being told I should shut up and go away is reward all on its own.