In writing, there are two approaches: outlining, which appeals to writers of fast-paced genres or page-turners, and flying by the seat of your pants, which works for writers of literary fiction. The speaker, however, spends most of his time revising and editing his work, always optimistic that it can be improved.
The type of writing you do may determine how you approach outlining or flying by the seat of your pants when writing a book. Those writing fast-paced novels may benefit from a detailed outline, while those focusing on literary fiction may prefer to let the story unfold organically as they write.
In the pursuit of making their work better, many writers spend countless hours editing and judging their own work - sometimes to a fault. However, it's important to take a step back and appreciate the good work that has been done.