>This. Technical writing is a different species entirely. You know beforehand all of the pieces, or at least reason about them.

The advice to "don't edit while you write" usually comes after the advice to "make an outline" before you write. You are supposed to figure out how the pieces fit. Then quickly write it all out. Then edit edit edit.

The general idea is that is easier to edit afterwards than to edit on the fly. Its true for me.