Could you put up a link to this article, Wyrm? You've peaked my interest with the information you've given us, and I'd like to read a little from the source. ^_^
I would say I'm a bit of both. I'm constantly rewording sentences to make sure I'm happy with them, and then when I finish a paragraph I go back and read it then edit. Then when I finish a page I reread and edit. And once I've finished the story I AGAIN reread and edit. Write then edit, reread and compare then edit, then back to write; LOL It's a cycle for me really.
Sorry for the late reply, but here's where I found it:
http://narrativeintheblog.wordpress.com/2011/02/07/swooping-and-bashing/
I couldn't find the original webpage, but this one basically agrees with most of what the page I read said.
Anyways, I think Swoopers are the "right" way to write AKA White Heat and Cold Blood. I'd like to think much of the ambitiously competent writers here who aren't in a rush to get instant praise are Swoopers. Bashers are for the inexperienced; people who wanna get into writing and just "wanna have fun". But not to say Bashers are bad. Sometimes the situation calls for them like a comp for Flash Fiction or a brainstorm session. Regardless, quality work from Bashers is the exception not the rule and should only be produced if said certain conditions require it.
Interesting... you do realize the the Bard (Shakespeare) can be considered a basher? It was the envy of many other writers of his time that he never had to edit his plays at all; he just wrote what he liked and it seemed to work out for him. Some people see those records and state that's because he's a genius, but I personally think he was just a really, really good basher. (Of course, after further thought, having to copy an entire page by hand if he gets it wrong might also be a reason to be a basher rather than a swooper.)
For me, bashing actually seems like the harder thing to do, if you do it right. Good bashers don't write what comes out of the top of their heads; they make millions of possible sentences in their heads before picking out the best one and moving on. This is the sort of style that should only be used by pros, from my point of view anyway; they have to be good enough to consider all the ways they can portray a certain scene, then pick out the best way and agonize over every single word before moving on.
By contrast, swooping is simply where you record an idea and keep expanding on it, and (hopefully) improving it. Swooping, therefore, should be the easier style to use. But that is another poll alltogether, isn't that?:confused:
Anyway, I consider myself a swooper. Unless I'm writing poetry, I don't really bash; and I'm a poor poet at that, so I guess that makes me a swooper.