Editorial Freelancers Association’s Post

EDIT YOUR WRITING. Here are three great tips to edit your writing — examples included.

3 dead-simple steps to edit your writing in 10 minutes or less (that you'll actually use): Chances are, your editing process is 1 of these 2: 1. Spending zero time editing at all 2. Spending way too much time agonizing over every word Neither of these are good. The key? Finding a quick process you'll actually stick to. And here are 3 steps to get you there: 1. Wait 24 hours between writing and editing The legendary David Ogilvy taught me this trick. Your writing will *always* look good shortly after writing it – because you just wrote it! So you need to give it time to breathe. Coming back the next day, we have 2 goals: • Edit the copy for clarity & flow • Edit the formatting for readability & skimmability But instead of skipping these 2 steps entirely (or spending dozens of hours on them), we're going to do it in 10 minutes or less. Here's how: 2. Read everything you write aloud Another legend – Gary Halbert – taught me this one. It's hard to *see* the clunky bits in your writing – sometimes you have to *hear* them. And this is the secret to great writing – it doesn't *sound* like writing. Here's what I mean: When you read something aloud, 99% of the time you will find it hard to speak. Writing that is hard to speak is hard to read. This is why the single best piece of writing advice I've ever heard is to write as you talk. So when reading aloud, look for 2 things: • Find where you are out of breath. This means you have run-on sentences – combine them. • Find where you stumble over words. This means you're using jargon or trying to sound smart – simplify it. Spend 5 minutes to fix these & your writing quality will 10x. 3. Read your writing on a different screen than the one you wrote on This is *the* ultimate editing hack – and something almost everyone overlooks. Most people both write & edit on a desktop - never even considering mobile. But editing from your phone does 2 things: • Reading on mobile gives you fresh eyes. Just like waiting 24 hours between writing & editing, this new perspective makes it *painfully obvious* which parts to cut/rewrite. • Reading from mobile puts formatting/skimmability top of mind. This is important because on the internet (and on phones especially), people don't "read" they SKIM. Then, they read. And if you don't give them a reason to keep reading while they skim, they won't even consider reading. Back to TikTok and Netflix they go. So here are 4 little formatting hacks: 1. Avoid big "walls of text" to make it less intimidating 2. Use big bold subheads to make it skimmable 3. Use bulleted/numbered lists to optimize for SPEED 4. Open with 1 single sentence to make it easy for your reader to get started Boom – now your piece is super readable. That's a wrap! 📌  If you want more writing advice like this, then check out the link in my bio at the top of this post: "Visit my website".  Follow the link to get a free 13,000-word Ultimate Guide on how to start writing online.

I often have to explain to people what #copyediting is and how it differs from other forms of #editing. This article offers the best explanation I've seen. https://lnkd.in/g4MrS-Zx

Writers, adverbs can be a valuable tool in writing, but they should be used sparingly and only when they add something significant to the sentence. Overusing adverbs, especially after attributive verbs like "he said" or "she said," can clutter your writing and make it feel artificial. For example, instead of writing "He said angrily, 'You're wrong!'" consider simply letting the dialogue show the anger.The character's tone, choice of words, and body language can all convey their emotion without the need for an adverb. By allowing the dialogue to speak for itself, you can create a more authentic and engaging scene. Similarly, instead of writing "She replied sadly, 'I don't know what to do,'" try using a sad tone in the dialogue. This will convey the character's sadness more effectively than a simple adverb. The same goes for explanatory verbs; “ she consoled,” “he congratulated.” While this may seem like a way to provide more detail, it can actually weaken your writing. Over-explaining verbs and abusing attributives can significantly detract from the quality of your writing. It can make your prose feel cluttered and repetitive. Relying too heavily on adverbs and explanatory verbs, dilutes the power of your dialogue thereby hindering your ability to show, rather than tell, your reader. This can lead to a loss of engagement and interest, as readers may find the writing to be dull or ineffective. Instead of relying on crutches like adverbs and attributives, focus on writing strong, evocative dialogue that conveys the characters' emotions, thoughts, and personalities through their words and actions. This will make your writing more engaging, authentic, and memorable. ———————————————————— I’m Emem Duff. I help aspiring authors craft compelling narratives. Together, we'll refine your story, ensuring it: 1) Captures the essence of your unique voice. 2) Connects with readers on a deep emotional level. 3) Leaves a lasting impression that resonates long after the final page.

I have a deep love for excellence, especially in writing that's clean, clear, and concise. It's this passion that drove me to study editing thoroughly, aiming to craft error-free content. Though editing can be tough for me, it's a crucial part of writing that I've learned to embrace. I've discovered some techniques to edit my own work easily, ensuring I always share polished content. I’m excited to share these tips with you, and I hope they will inspire you too in releasing clean and polished written works. Here are my self-editing techniques: 1. Read aloud: Take it slow, read your work out loud. This helps spot errors and awkward phrases you might miss otherwise. It gives you a clearer picture of what you've written. 2 Clarity and consistency: As you read, focus on clarity and consistency. Ensure each word and sentence is crystal clear. Cut out any confusing bits and keep it simple. Also, check that your writing style stays consistent throughout. 3. Be concise: Trim the excess. Get rid of unnecessary words and sentences to make your writing impactful. Less is often more when it comes to writing. Say more with fewer words, keeping your message direct and powerful. 4. Grammar and spelling: Fix any grammar and spelling mistakes. Tools like Grammarly can be a big help here. Always strive for clean writing as it reflects excellence and professionalism. 5. Final check: Give it one last look-over. Look for any lingering errors and make sure everything is polished and perfect before sharing it with the world. I hope these tips prove helpful. All the best. #ginawrites #writingtips #writingtipsandstrategies

Writing is rewriting. Why you should spend 80 percent of your time as a writer rewriting. It is the most important steps in the writing process (and has a huge impact on the story you’re telling). Here's how to edit well. For me, writing happens in three phases: Phase 1: I write the first draft. I do this fast, following my outline and getting everything out on the page as quickly as I’m comfortable with. Phase 2: I summon my inner editor. Then, after a couple of days, I come back to the piece to edit it. There are always certain key self-editing points I hit (more on this in a moment) and I do a few rounds of edits before getting feedback. Phase 3: I read my work aloud. Good writing is great listening. It's how a paragraph sounds, never monotonous and, ideally, the more you grind at it, something close to orchestral. It's the dissonance and assonance of words in a sentence. If you want help on turning yourself into a great editor, I've got a free course for you to do that. Head here. https://lnkd.in/eDAv_a4S

On Editing and Why It Matters Not even the best writers among us can write a perfect piece in one go. Editing your work is an essential part of the writing process. If you want to be the best writer you can, you're going to have to make friends with quality editing. ✂ My first tip is not to worry at all about the first draft. Get everything down that you want to say, warts and all. The hardest part is getting something down to begin with. Once it's there, you have something to work with. ✂ If you know what you're doing, you will have made a plan before you started writing. Your second draft should be to ensure that your copy meets your plan and ticks off all the important points. ✂ Your third draft should focus on getting the structure right. Does the narrative flow seamlessly? Are all your points in the correct order? Are paragraphs used appropriately and so on. Should you encounter any unnecessary words, sentences or paragraphs, leave them on the cutting room floor. ✂ Now comes your fourth draft. Check your tone of voice. Is it engaging? Is it informative? Is it supportive? Is it unintentionally patronising? How about your style and punctuation? Are they appropriate for the task in hand? Do they need amending? Are you using too many metaphors? ✂ The fifth draft is where you print off your work and read it through. Make sure it is spell-checked and proof-read at least twice. This is where you will submit your work. ❗ Keep in mind that drafts are a separate entity to rewrites. You are not to completely rewrite your piece five times. Instead, you go through it five times, ticking off each of the points listed above.

What is an article? An article is a written communication that portrays a central theme from a writer that they want to display to their readership. Article topics may vary and take showcase current or past events worldwide. Additionally, the writer intends on writing content that draws a human interest and connects with viewers uniquely in comparison to other stories. Other objectives a writer may aim to achieve when writing an article include: •Gives advice and courses of actions •Drives exposure on newsworthy and technological stories •Influences the current opinions of their readers How to write articles? Review these guidelines for how to write an efficient article that's likely to be read by your target audience. •Select a topic to write about. •Identify your target audience. •Research facts that reinforce your story. •Come up with an outline of your article. •Write a rough draft and pare down your outline. •Specify your subject matter. •Read aloud until your draft is error-free. Tips for writing articles Consider these tips to help improve the content of the articles you write: •Check for punctuation and grammatical errors: It's important to proofread your articles for proper punctuation and grammatical usage. Also, since articles for media publications generally follow AP style guidelines, it's useful to have an AP stylebook handy. •Time yourself when writing: If you have a set word count, write your first draft and see how long it takes you. This is a great way to manage your time and write quality content on a steady basis while keeping your manager or editor informed about your progress. •Keep your points simple: Clarity is crucial for the success of your writing, and you should get your point across with fewer words than writing more to meet a word requirement. Check with your manager or editor about the content guidelines and word count.

Consistency challenge day 5. WRITING A SHORT STORY: From Ideation to Final Draft. Have you ever read a story and wondered what went on in the mind of the writer while they were writing? Well, today is your lucky day. Today, I'd be giving you a peek into the brain of a brilliant short story writer — myself. Most writers go through 6 stages when writing. Stage 1: Idea Conception. Stage 2: Research Stage 3: Outlining Stage 4: First Draft Stage 5: Editing Stage 6: Final Draft. But I'm not most writers. Here's how my writing process goes. 1. Idea Conception: It could be a random word or phrase I hear, a line from a movie, a prompt I'm given, an event I witness or hear, a dream, a picture or just a person’s expression. One minute it's that, and the next minute, it's a full-blown story idea dancing its way around my head. 2. Contemplation: Here, I wonder if I should write it down or procrastinate. Yes, procrastinate. Sometimes, I tell myself I'll remember it later and boom, an awesome idea disappears in the blink of an eye. On days when I do jot it down, I move to the third stage. 3. Sporadic Writing: In a bid to get it all out of my head, I write, write and write. At instances where I need to add something that needs research, I either pause to research or indicate a space where that piece of information should be, then continue. 4. Unintentional Editing: as much as I try to write without editing, as it's the first draft, I still end up rewriting and re-editing paragraphs, sentences, phrases till they sound perfect in my head. 5. More Sporadic Writing: Here's where the crazy plot twist finds a way to dig into my brain in a swift punch, I don't see it coming. Sometimes, I'm too shocked by the idea that I pause to let it sink in. Then I proceed to jot it down to avoid losing it. 6. Still More Writing: The tale weaves on and on, like a spider weaving its web. Characters blossom, conversations lull, conflict brews, suspense digs in, resolution, THE END. 7. Putting in the Wow Factor: I love leaving my readers with something to think about, something to ruminate on. And that is the reason why after invoking suspense, I drop a shocking resolution. Sometimes, I end the story at the suspense, leaving my readers wondering. 8. Editing: Here, I go back to that unfilled space and fill it in. Then, I read and reread the story, scrutinizing it for errors and things that don't resonate well with me, promptly correcting them. 9. Final Draft: My baby is ready. I reread it and get marveled by how my brain could conceive such a masterpiece. There you have it. My writing process from start to finish might not mirror that of most writers, but it is what makes my stories stand out. It is what makes me the exceptional short story writer I am – and I love it. What's your writing process like? Let me know in the comments 😊. #Shortstories #Writingprocess #Creativewriting #Storytelling #Consistencychallenge #20daysconsistency ©Favespills