When I write, the final step is to edit your writing. When I work with an editor, he or she may request additional changes, but it’s my job to turn in a piece that is as clean as possible. In situations where I am the writer and the editor (which is the case for many of my clients and on this blog), my final edits are vital.
Some of the editing I have to do, such as shortening sentences for readability, are specific to the SEO demands of the outlet. I won’t go into that here (though I will talk more about SEO in future posts).
If you want to be a better writer, you need to be a better editor. Whether it’s a term paper for school, a report for work, or even an important email, clear and concise writing will get you the gold star.
One more benefit of editing: it frees me from writer’s block. I’m never afraid to write an ugly first draft because I know I can fix it in the edits. All I have to do is wrestle something onto the paper. Once I have a very rough draft, editing smooths the jagged edges.
Here are six tips for improving your editing. Your readers will thank you.
To edit your writing, print it out
When I was writing for a local news site, a younger colleague was shocked to find out that I printed out all my stories before I submitted them. She didn’t do that. And I could tell. Though she was an excellent writer, her pieces contained unforced errors. I think she would have found and corrected them if she had printed out her work.
If you only do one of the tips on this list, pick this one. And buy a red pen to make your changes.
I can see the shape of a written piece much more clearly on the printed page. When I’m editing someone else’s writing, I print that out, too.
On paper, I get a better feel for the flow of the piece. I see paragraphs that need to move and sentences that can be deleted. Reading on paper helps me find words that were left out and words that were repeated.
If paper is too old school for you, at least read your work on a large screen where you can see a whole page at one time. You need the big view to see and fix the structure of your writing.
Use spellcheck to edit your writing
This is such a simple thing you’d think it goes without saying. And yet, I once worked on a legal case where the opposing counsel included the word “Defednat” in the caption of a brief. The defendant was his client and he could have saved himself a lot of grief by using spellcheck.
You can see the red squiggly line under misspelled words and correct them immediately. However, that’s not enough. Run spellcheck as your final editing step. Spellcheck is an easy way to find grammatical errors or misspelled names you might not catch otherwise.
Read it out loud
If I need to seriously polish a piece of my writing, I read it out loud. If a sentence is hard to say out loud, it’s probably confusing to read. In addition, reading my writing out loud highlights the flow and syntax.
One note: when I write speeches for clients, I read those out loud over and over and over. If you’re writing something that’s meant to be spoken, then speak it as you edit it.
“Kill your darlings”
This tip comes from the fabulous author and writing teacher, Adair Lara. A “darling” is that sentence or paragraph where you nailed it. You found a clever turn of phrase. Or you made a witty reference. Or you used a funny example to illustrate your point.
These are the hardest parts of your writing to edit out. Even when they don’t advance the story, many people are reluctant to cut them.
When you edit your writing, you must be ruthless. If your darlings don’t fit your narrative, you have to kill them. Your allegiance must be to the story, not to your clever prose.
Less is more
I often write more words than an assignment calls for or than I have space for. This leads to tough choices. I cut interesting facts and good quotes. In the end, what’s left is just the most salient facts and the best quotes. A well-honed piece of writing emerges from the rubble. It’s tight, it’s interesting. It doesn’t drag the reader down side streets where they might get lost and give up.
Long reads are wonderful. I enjoy a discursive story told by a great writer. But I rarely have time for that. Your readers don’t either.
Edit your writing like a reader, not a writer
The more I can get into the reader’s head, the better my writing is. Each paragraph has to communicate something that the reader will want to know, not what I want to write. I need to explain concepts clearly for someone who might be new to them.
Ask yourself what questions your intended audience has. Then edit your writing so you answer those questions only.
Delete your ego
As mentioned above, the editing process, if done right, is often bloody. I spend a lot of time writing down words, then I throw away a big chunk of them.
To be a good, honest editor of your own work, it helps to be humble. If my only goal as a writer is to serve my reader, then I won’t mind the red ink.
Now I have to print this out, get out my red pen, and show myself no mercy. You’re welcome.