Editing has always been one of my least favorite parts of being a writer. I'm not the most patient person you'll ever meet (probably why I'm impulsive too), so after I'm done writing an article I'm totally ready to just get it out there and post it somewhere. I cringe at the editing process. Yet what I've learned over the years is that editing is your friend. Yep, it really is. Editing (especially when others edit your work) makes you a better writer. And although I strongly recommend an editor if you are working on publishing a book, it's still necessary for you to edit yourself. So with that being said, here are five quick tips to help you edit better and faster: 1) Read your work out loud. Reading aloud gives you the chance to slow down and catch little mistakes. It also allows you the ability to see how well your words flow together. 2) Read through it a few times. Don't just read it through once and let it go. This will prevent you from catching mistakes. Read a couple times with different paces. Maybe one time you'll read it really slowly and the next time you'll read really quickly. 3) Print it out. Read your book/article/story in printed form. If you're publishing a book, this is where you buy a physical proof copy and read it. Reading it off the computer gives it a new dimension and helps you read it differently. 4) Put yourself in your reader's shoes. When writing something, you should first identify your general audience. You can't write to please everyone. Figure out who will benefit most from your work. The general audience for my first book was teenagers and young adults. With that knowledge in mind, when editing my book I had to ask myself, "Is this something that would catch the interest of a teenager? Are the chapters too long and intense for a busy young adult?" Put yourself in their shoes. 5) Remember you can't be perfect. No one is perfect, not even your favorite author. You can't possibly catch every mistake or plot error. Edit to the best of your ability, allow one or multiple people to edit with you, and then leave the book in God's hands. He's got it from there.
Joanna
10/6/2017 02:18:04 pm
Thank you! This is very helpful. :D
Bella Morganthal
10/6/2017 09:49:17 pm
My pleasure! :) 10/6/2017 02:38:29 pm
Excellent tips! I'm always wondering how I can become better at self-editing my work - perhaps tip #5 is the one I need to take to heart the most. I always pressure myself to be that perfect writer which - like you said - is impossible for anyone to achieve!
Bella Morganthal
10/6/2017 09:50:01 pm
Thanks for commenting, Moriah! Yes, I'm the same way, so I was definitely preaching to myself with number five ;)
Bella Morganthal
10/6/2017 09:50:20 pm
My pleasure!
Anna
10/7/2017 04:34:30 pm
LOL, editing is my least favorite part, too! :D Thank you for these tips!! When I edit my next book, I'll be sure to use these ideas! :)
Bella Morganthal
10/8/2017 01:52:05 pm
Haha, I'm glad I'm not the only one ;) My pleasure!! Comments are closed.
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About this page:
This page of my blog is dedicated specifically to writers. I've been writing for over half of my life. I live and breathe writing. Because of that, I'm passionate about helping other writers grow, develop, and succeed. This section of my blog will include blog posts dedicated to writing, encouragement, and resources. Feel free to read through some posts and my contact form is always open if you ever have any questions or need encouragement! ♥ Archives
April 2018
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