Writing Well-- 6 Steps to Being Your Own Better Editor

One of the 1st important lessons a writer learns is that writing is a process, a series of steps that take an idea from construct to completed work. This is true whether the activity is an article, a poem, a report, a short story or a book. Understanding this process -- and the role a writer plays in it -- is crucial to their success.

One of the most important steps in this process is learning to look at one's own activity objectively. To focus on the intended message and ensure that it is delivered properly. Patch that may seem obvious enough, as the activity progresses, it can become blurred. As the old song goes, "I have so more to say; but the words get in my way." To clarify that 'blurring' effect, it is essential to be able to edit your own work. But how makes a writer edit their own work? Patch the process may vary depending on the writer, there are six steps that are integral to editing.

1) COMPLETE THE DRAFT

Novice writers should not attempt to edit as they write. Even as fully fledged writers, who discover to smoothe over the copy as they go, cognize this is not piece of writing and must wait for that separate step later on. The most important point of a 1st draft is to just get the idea on paper, in some fashion that's comfortable for the writer. An outline is helpful and can serve as a rough draft for smaller projects. But if that format seems too limiting, just write out the 1st draft, understanding it is only the 1st go-around.

2) WALK AWAY

Even if it's only for a long enough period of time to get a glass of water. With longer projects, try to lengthen the time to a few days or weeks. This step allows the writer to gain perspective by "stepping back". Mostly, it allows the writer time for the subject to settle in their mind, plus it gives them time to mentally shift gears from writer to editor.

3) ASSESS OBJECTIVELY

While reading over the copy, the writer must discover to view it as a reader. One should be neither to a fault critical, nor to a fault attached to certain pet phrases or side remarks, but just see it as if reading it for the 1st time. Once done earnestly, this wish do any errors, flaws or awkward points more apparent.

4) BE BRUTAL

This is the most difficult step, especially for the young or insecure writer. Heck, it's tough for the pros. Think of the classic pictures of an editor-- from the old Superman comics, for instance, wielding his red-ink pen with flourish, only interested in the facts. Especially once writing articles or in business, this is your better ally. With this pictures in mind, actually look at what is necessary to do a logical progression. One trick is to put yourself under an artificial word restriction. Nothing helps cut unneccesary copy better than a specific word limit.

5) CRISP, CONCISE, Clean

These are the "3-C's" of nice writing. Patch each writer has his/her own way of expressing themselves (and, in the case of fiction, more latitude is acceptable), these three points are integral parts of any eminent writing.

CRISP - A fresh or meaning viewpoint. Take a stand. The intention of writing is to say something-- so say it!

CONCISE - Do not wander from the point. At least, not without a reason that directly relates to the innovational idea.

CLEAR - Do a steady progression from beginning to end. Don't leave major gaps in the progression.

Whether a report, a novel, an essay or an article -- even as in poetry or song -- this rule applies. Patch editing, a writer must ask themself if the activity succeeds in these three areas. If it doesn't, WHY? Analyze once and wherever it strays, even as if that means working backward to the beginning.

6) PERSONAL WEAKNESS

Just as an contestant must discover to be aware of any physical weakness and compensate for it, so a writer must familiarze themself with their own bad habits or tendencies. A classic example is once a young writer masks their insecurity with a flourish of fancy words. But each writer has their own faults and must discover to guard against them. For example, once I was young, I had a nasty habit of mistreatment at least three adjectives whenever I delineate something. Eventually I saw this as the annoying flaw it was, and knowing to choose the really better adjective and commit to it. Seeing this habit as a flaw was difficult. But it ready-made me a stronger writer.

And that is the entire intention of learning to edit one's own work: to grow and strengthen as a writer.--mo

About The Author

Marige O'Brien works as a writer, web designer and affiliate/internet marketer. Check out her website, Huntsman Mo's Den (www.trackermo.com) and look for her past articles, as well as latest marketing tips, on her blog, Huntsman Mo's Latest Finds (trackermosfinds.blogspot.com).

This article was denote on Gregorian calendar month 06, 2005