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5 Ways to Improve Your Editing

1. Read – Well-written books and articles can help you improve your editing through exposing you to different words and writing styles. Grammar and editing guides also offer plenty of advice on English usage.

2. Cut – Try removing words from your sentences; if they don’t add to the overall meaning, they’re often not necessary.

3. Get expert help – If you’re uncomfortable with words, or feel you need more than a little advice, talk to someone you trust who knows English well. Ask them to mark up one of your pieces so you can see where you need to improve. Or talk to an experienced pro (like me). Many of us are better at editing others’ work than we are at our own.

4. Use software – Grammar apps and software with spell-check can help. If time is tight, they can ease the editing process, but they don’t catch everything.

5. Practice – As your confidence grows and you gain a better understanding of the basics of good writing, edit others’ work. One way to do this is to join a writing group.

What has helped you improve your editing? Feel free to comment below.

Need help with your editing or proofreading? Contact me to fix the flow and sound like a pro.

Quotes

“In art, economy is always beauty.” ~ Henry James

“When in doubt, delete it.” ~ Philip Cosby

Comments? Suggestions? Need help with your communications? Contact me.

improving your writing, writing advice, writing better, writing consultation

5 Lessons Everyone Can Learn About Writing

1. How to turn a phrase – Some people feel that they need to learn about writing. English could be their second language or maybe they got poor grades in school. Their problem areas include everything from proper grammar and punctuation to spelling, sentence structure, tone, and transitions. It’s helpful to learn about writing to improve, but you don’t need to know every technique to write well. For instance, spell-checkers like Grammarly help me correct errors in communications I draft quickly, such as emails, social media posts, and other memos.

2. How to shorten your writing and save time – Perhaps you feel you have too much to say — jotting everything down briefly and clearly becomes a chore. For detailed thinkers, it can take hours to accomplish. It’s possible to use fewer words to finish sooner.

3. How to sound like yourself – Some people think they speak better than they write. Others believe they have limited vocabularies that show they’re clueless about writing. They wrestle with writing in a way that sounds natural to them. Instead of talking down to their audience, they can use certain methods to speak to them in their own voices.

4. How to start writing – When you jot down your thoughts, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure about where to begin. Perhaps you believe you have too many ideas or “overthink” concepts. Maybe you see things and fumble to connect words with them. In a few simple steps, you can ease into writing your first few sentences.

5. How to accept your writing – Often, we’re too hard on ourselves. Some people have told me they write poorly and can’t focus. They worry that their grammar is bad. They lack confidence in spelling some words and think they should already know how. They’re perfectionists; they organize paragraphs over and over or fight to find just the right words.

No matter the writing problem, when they must write, they don’t. Instead, they become prone to distraction and find excuses to delay writing, which can include bad timing or the need to get in the right mood. One of the first ways to get beyond procrastination is to stop judging and just write.

You can’t learn about writing through reading just one article. Coaching or consulting offers a deeper “dive” to give you a better understanding. It starts with a free 30-minute meeting. Learn more.

Quotes

“The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.” ~ Brian Herbert

“What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing.” ~ Aristotle

What do you struggle with in your writing?