The first rule of writing is to just write, the second rule of writing is to reflect, the third rule of writing is to try to understand what the hell you have written and the fourth rule of writing is to edit and make sense.
Just recently I was asked how to get a rough first draft into final copy and I was stumped. Stumped because writing and editing has become an unconscious competence, which basically means I just do it. And I bet if you ask any writer the same question they will have to think what their process actually is.
So… here are some of the processes I go through, though not necessarily in this order…
Have an editing plan
The editing plan is my list of things I must remember to do.
Have a change log
When you find something that needs changing make a note.
Refer to your outline
I put mine up where I can see it and keep asking, am I following the plan? Have I answered the questions?
Format your work for clarity and flow
Now… I am the sort of writer who sets up her workspace (page size, style sheets etc.) before she starts, so this is the easy bit. If you are the kind of writer who opens up a blank document and just writes, now is the time for you to format your work. This means putting all of the headings and formatting the main body.
Turn on the navigation pane and rulers
This really helps you to see where you are and how the document flows. It’s the outline on the left.
What, why, how and what if
Highlight questions / answers
Start to make sense of your writing
Read, reflect, annotate, mark up, delete, decide, rewrite etc.
There is so much more…
Word checks
- Small words – It, so, or, of
- Sound like – Their and there – Your and you’re
- Consistency
- Overused words
- Make a list of no no words – search & replace
Thesaurus
- Pick different words, try them for size
- Be careful that your new word makes sense
Variety
- Don’t start sentences the same way
- Mix up long and short sentences
- Highlight parts – use bold – put quotes in italics
Analogies / stories
- Do they make sense?
- Are they in context?
- Are they consistent?
Share with others
- Take it in turns to read aloud
- Can you follow?
- Does it make sense?
Slash redundancies
- Cut and slash
- WORDS
- SENTENCES
- PARAGRAPHS
-
If it doesn’t make sense get rid of it
-
Move it to where it does make sense
Spell and grammar checker
- Check for different things – just spelling, just grammar, grammar and style, etc.
Check the steps
- Do they make sense
And there is even more
But this is where we stop for now. You could of course consider a professional copy editor to scrutinise your work…
Good luck.
Thank you for this great bit of advice! Writing is the easy part, it’s the editing that is hard. Making the work make sense, rewriting, deleting, rearranging…it’s mind boggling!
Editing although harder is where the magic happens and is just a process 🙂 It drives me insane sometimes!
Loved the topic of this post because I needed it badly!!! It is so hard to stay focused on the how and why you’re writing after you’ve been doing it for a while. So thank you for this outline. I’m taking notes. 🙂
It looks like you put a lot of effort into your writing 🙂
I do, but you know, even with all of that effort I miss things!
Those are all really good reminders. I tend to skip over the proof reading at times.
I know, it is such a pain to have to keep re-reading, but worth it
Great tips – you summed it up well in the first few lines. Dropping by from UBC
Awesome help and advice. Will print this off… Do you write with a pen and paper or keyboard to get the initial words down while ‘in flow’ …
I do whatever I am in the mood for. I love both processes and personally I think you should what suits you.
Thank you so much for sharing your editing tips. I don’t have a plan but I should. Each time I correct my writing I always find something I missed.
I do too 🙂 That’s why learning to take time off is so valuable
Thanks for this advice. Editing and grammar are not my strengths, so I am always looking for ways to improve.
Oy oy oy. When I was an English and writing tutor in college, I always told students exactly what you say here.
And guess who doesn’t follow her own advice?
I really need to get back into doing this.
Thanks for the reminder, Jacqui!
The thing is Angie all of this is what we learn in school, we just forget and it becomes part of the overall noise of being there. It’s only when we concentrate on the one subject our writing do we bother to try and improve it. I am learning all the time. Or is that re-learning.
What a great post. I will print this off and use it when I write my book. Never realised writing was so complex!!! Thank you x
Caroline
It’s not complex, its just a process 🙂 With each step you get closer to the magic. Jx
Fabulous Jacqui – thank you for sharing your knowledge with us – it’s very inspiring, if not a little daunting!
I enjoyed this post. Like you, I’d have to think about the steps and was pleased to realise, as I went through the post, that I do actually do them! As you know, editing is a particular love of mine which perhaps makes me a little odd. It does mean that I enjoy something that other people don’t tend to. I’m also big on planning and am always telling people – tutorial students, clients, people in the street – that the more you plan, the more fun and the easier your writing tends to be. On the other hand, there always has to be some flexibility as the act of writing itself tends to bring up ideas, amendments and clarifications which need to find a home. Thank you for a really practical and thought-provoking post.