The Write Way: Tips & Advice for Writers

A Word or Ten About Editing

One of the most common mistakes many writers, authors and bloggers make when writing an article or story online, is that they don't edit their work.

I'm not singling out any particular group, but if you're like me, maintaining a blog because you just want to write, then you may know what I'm talking about.

By definition, bloggers and writers work alone. Unless by some miracle you sit in an office with a bunch of other people writing - yet still, you write alone. So when the words on your page sound awesome and you think you've just just written something so fabulous you can't believe you wrote it, that is when you REALLY need to take a step back.

Finish your epic piece and walk away. Take a break and after several minutes or longer, go back and read it with fresh eyes. I'm sure you do that already though right? It's what good writers do after all.

Once you've done all that and feel satisfied there's no problems or errors in your work - check again. Make sure you have all the right categories listed, your tags are good to go and you have the right links associated with your piece. Once you've done that and your mouse is hovering over that oh so tempting, "publish" button, wait! Don't do it!

I can't count how many times I've done exactly these steps and felt so awesome about what I've written that I start spreading the word faster than you can say "like." I just want everyone to read my awesomeness in my published piece so much that I don't bother triple-checking my article until later.

Later meaning that I check it after several people have already read it. And that's when I find it. A problem with wording, grammar or repeated words or phrases that when I go back and read my piece they stick out like a neon sign.

Usually, it's a glaringly obvious error that makes me feel embarrassed and forces me to spend even more time going over my article for a fourth or fifth time checking for more problems. Which inevitably allows doubt and insecurity to creep in. And who needs that?

My solution? It's a simple really. One I've known I should do for a very long time, but always forget until after I've made this mistake for the umpteenth time. And that is, read your article or chapter of your book OUT LOUD.

Any grammatical problems, flow of wording or sentence structure that might crop up will make itself known. Like going off on a tangent, or switching between tenses like using walked instead of walking. As soon as you read your words aloud, you will hear any problems you might have written on your page.

And that, for me, is the best way to edit anything I've ever written. Wish me luck in remembering my own advice. I'll probably need it.