Seven Editing Tips for Professional and Nonprofessional Writers
November 26, 2007 by Lillie
Often, inexperienced writers believe they’ve finished the project when they type “the end.” They post the article, send the news release to the media, mail the complaint letter, or submit the manuscript to an editor. Then they discover a glaring error in the headline, a typo in the company name, an omitted word – or a number of more serious errors.
I won’t promise you’ll ever have a perfect manuscript. No matter how careful we are, mistakes happen. An error-free e-mail isn’t too difficult, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 100,000 word book manuscript without a single mistake.
However, you can ensure your writing is as error-free and easy to read as possible, whether you’re a professional freelancer writing Web content for a client, an entrepreneur announcing business news in a press release, or a concerned citizen writing a letter to the editor.
- Write first, edit later. I’ve known people who have been working on a manuscript for years and haven’t got past chapter 1 because they continue to edit, revise, rewrite, trying to get those pages perfect before moving on. Although some writers do work best if they edit as they write, most are more creative and effective if they get their thoughts down first before trying to edit.
- Take a break. After you’ve been wrestling with text for hours (or longer), you tend to lose your perspective.You think you’re editing, but you’re really reading what you meant – what you thought you wrote rather than what you actually wrote. If you put the piece aside for a while (the longer the document, the longer the break), you’ll return with fresh eyes and a fresh viewpoint and do a better job of editing.
- Edit in stages. How many stages you need will depend on the length, complexity, and importance of the document. An essay for a college entrance application will need a lot more editing than a short memo to your staff. For a major project, read the entire document first. You may discover that you need to move a section or add or delete material. After you’re satisfied with the structure, go back through the document as many times as needed. Edit for content – sentence structure, word choices, clarity. Then proofread for grammar, spelling, and punctuation. You can use spell check and grammar check in your word processing program as a guide, but don’t rely on the recommendations. The programs know rules but not context. You can easily turn the right word into the wrong one by accepting the program’s suggestions.
- Watch for your own pet problems. Most writers have words they overuse and mistakes they make often. I just finished reading a book in which the author used the word instantly on almost every page. Instead of adding to the story, instantly became an annoying intrusion. My big bugaboo is leaving out words. Almost everything I write is missing several words in the first draft. There are many grammar resources online. One of my favorites is The Elements of Style, a classic that’s still helpful after almost a hundred years. Another excellent resource, Guide to Grammar and Writing, has lists of “confusable” words to help you decide whether to use it’s or its, accept or except, advice or advise, then or than. Look for your own bad habits and make sure you correct those errors.
- Repeat the process of editing, setting the work aside, and editing again as often as needed. You may not need to go through the complete cycle for a short, informal document, but you will probably go through it dozens of times for a book-length manuscript. Mix editing on screen with editing in print; errors show up more readily in print than on screen for many people.
- Read the work aloud. When you think your work is perfect, try reading it out loud. Chances are you’ll stumble over sentences that read fine in print or on the screen but are awkward or confusing. I discover those missing words that I automatically inserted when I read on the screen. Some writers like to read backwards, but I don’t find that helpful. Use what works for you.
- Get another opinion from someone you trust. When you’re working on a book, a manual for your company, a paper that will determine whether you are accepted into college or earn your degree – anything of high importance, ask someone else to edit the document after you’ve finished self-editing. Don’t ask your spouse or mother, though; they’ll probably tell you it’s wonderful. A teacher may be excellent for spelling, grammar, and punctuation, but a reader of the genre may be better to point out loose ends you need to tie up in a mystery novel. Someone who isn’t familiar with the subject matter may be helpful for a how-to article; if he understands your explanation, other readers probably will also. On the other hand, sometimes an expert in the subject is best to ensure that your information is accurate. You can join a critique group to get feedback from other writers. A professional editor can help you with grammar as well as with content. I encourage my clients to have several advance readers for their books (and used several advance readers for my own novel). The more eyes and perspectives you get on your work, the more likely it will be the best you can make it.
This may seem like a lot of work – and it is – but if you don’t edit your work … again and again, your brilliant advice or your exciting story will never have the impact you want on your readers. Writing the first draft is only the first step – editing your work finishes the job.
This post is an entry in Litemind’s Lists Group Writing Project. The post was submitted too late to be included in the group writing project.
Related Posts:
About Critique Groups
Beware of the Wrong Critique Groups
The First Draft: Pure Green Dreck
Editing: Turning Dreck into Prose
Ten Tips for Self-Editing
Working with a Professional Editor (2-part series)
[tags]editing, group writing project[/tags]
Lille. Where is the series on editing that you mentioned? I’d like to have a look. So far I’ve been using sites like self-publishing companies tips
Phil,
The series begins with this post: http://lillieammann.com/2008/01/22/editing-part-1-what-is-editing/. All the other posts are linked from there.
You can also download a free PDF that includes all the posts:
http://lillieammann.com/books/editing-primer/
Thanks for this useful Tips Lillie.
I actually don’t have this attitude: Write first, edit later. but maybe I could try this one. This might work on me.
marie,
There’s certainly no one single way that is best for everyone, but most writers work better if they write first in the creative mode, then go back and edit in the detail-oriented mode.
Awesome list of tips. I sometimes catch myself over using some words too often without even realizing it. I will have to remember these. Thanks for sharing.
Don,
Most writers have favorite words and phrases that they overuse. Glad these tips were helpful to you.
Try not to edit while you’re creating your draft. Creating and editing are two separate processes using different sides of the brain, don’t try to do both at the same time.
I agree, Jeff.
I write a blog and you’ve hit the nail on the head when you say:
“write first – edit later”
I cant tell you the amount of time I’ve wasted by changing things as I go!
Thanks for all that you do
Sean
Sean@management training recently posted..A Story That Describes Why Some Managers Are Successful
Sean,
Trying to create the perfect document from the beginning can waste so much time you never finish. I have met aspiring writers who have been working on a book for years and are still on chapter one because they keep revising and revising and trying to perfect it before they move on.
Hey Lillie! You have provided very niche list of tips for editing. I want to let you know though your all the tips are very helpful but editing after writing doesn’t work for me as well I have wasted so much time.
Jennifer,
As I said in the post, some writers do best by editing as they write, but by far they are in the minority. Do what works for you.
Great tips. I tried using your 6th tip – “Read the work aloud” and it really works – While I was thinking that my work is perfect after read loudly, i got 4 corrections in a single paragraph.
Lillie – Thank you for sharing.
Ava,
Reading aloud is a great way to catch mistakes that are otherwise missed, as you discovered.
The best way is to have someone else read it and spot the mistakes. It just happens that you don’t seem to detect your own mistakes but the other person can spot it quite easily.
Jack,
I’m glad you agree with tip #7.
I wanted to be a writer and it is one of my all time dream to write a good story someday and have a perfect grammar.
Heather,
If you read my about page, you’ll learn that I always dreamed of writing “someday,” but when I had a stroke I realized there was no guarantee I would have a “someday.” The time to start is now. And I don’t think there’s any such thing as perfect grammar. There are many subjective style issues that aren’t always black or white.
I write science fiction and tip #1 is definitely very important. The first time I tried to write properly I had 2 really good paragraphs… but that was it. Write first, then re-write once your ideas are down.
I’m glad you found it helpful, Misti. Also glad to hear you agree with me on reading backwards.
Manchild,
Your comment about not falling in love with our words is an excellent point! That is one of the biggest mistakes of beginning writers.
How’s your book coming along?
Writing Nag,
When I read aloud, I always wonder how those awkward sentences, missing words, and other errors crept in the document that surely didn’t have them when I read it the last time.
Welcome, Randy. I hope you come back often.
Thanks, Jeanne.
As I told the host of the group writing project when he informed me he couldn’t accept my entry, it motivated me to write this post, so it was worthwhile even if the entry wasn’t accepted.
Thanks, Joanna! I’m glad you found this useful.
Thank you, Solomon. I’m glad you found the post helpful, and I look forward to having you visit often. Feel free to suggest post topics if there are specific things you want to know.
Susan,
I’m glad you found your way here thanks to KiwiWriter.
You’re not alone in struggling with #1. It seems to be a common problem.
Liz,
I’m glad you found the article helpful. It’s amazing how those errors pop up after you think you’re done. I’ve learned in book publishing that no matter how many edits the manuscript and galley go through, there will always be a few mistakes in the printer’s proof … and even in the printed book. But slowing down and editing again and again cuts the number and severity of the errors down dramatically.
Deb,
You’re right about the differences between writing and editing. I set out to write novels but found I’m better at – and really love – editing other writer’s novels. I do have another novel coming out soon, but I wrote it several years ago and haven’t written a book since.
Thanks. I understand being annoyed at finding mistakes in posts. Not only do I get annoyed when I discover a stupid mistake I’ve made, I’m also embarrassed. I’m writing a series on editing right now and expect somebody to point out a glaring error I’ve overlooked.
But that just proves my point that we all have a hard time seeing our own mistakes.
I’m glad you found the tips helpful. Since this post, I’ve written a series on editing that gives more detail.