If you think proofreading equals editing, then
you're wrong! Editing is a lot more than just scrutinizing your
manuscript for misspelled words or missing punctuation marks.
As a whole:
- Edit only *after* you've written the *whole*
piece. If you stop to edit after every paragraph or sentence, you will
disrupt the flow of your thoughts.
- It is better to take a break before starting to
edit a long manuscript so you’ll have a fresh perspective.
- Revise only *hard copy* especially if your
manuscript is quite long. Revising from a monitor is confusing.
- Verify the spelling of names, figures, dates,
and addresses. These are the most murdered items in manuscripts!
- Be sure of what you put between those quotation
marks! Otherwise, rephrase the line and omit the quotation marks.
- Did you follow the writer guidelines? e.g.,
number of words required, font/font size specified, spacing, margins...
Edit your content:
- Be sure that you did not stray from your topic.
Are your paragraphs coherent?
- Did you fulfill your purpose for writing that
piece? Is your entertainment feature article entertaining enough? Did
your personality sketch bring out your subject's unique and distinct
qualities?
- If necessary, did you provide enough supporting
data (graphs, charts, figures) for your piece?
- If applicable, did your article answer the 5 Ws
and H? Who, what, why, were, when and how.
Edit for tightness:
- Remove redundant and useless words.
- What about diction? Did you use the right word
to express what you mean? For example, "He stared at her" is more
intense than "He looked at her." "Devour" is not the same as "eat."
- Did you vary the length of your sentences?
Combining long with short sentences makes your article easier and more
natural to read.
- Did you check that the body of your article is
longer than the introduction (lead)? Some writers get carried way. They
focus on an effective lead to hook the readers but neglect the body of
the article!
What about tone and style?
- Does your work reflect your writing style or
does it sound like a copied work?
- Did you use the active voice? Are you
consistent with the point of view you used?
- Do your title and the words you used match the
tone of your piece?
Copyright © 2004 Lizzie R. Santos (lizzie@imusepub.com)
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About The Author
Lizzie writes features, literary pieces,
radio and comics scripts, and school supplemental reading materials.
She is the author of two print books. Her e-book, Appetizers for
Creative Writers: A Workbook for Writers, is published by iMusePub.com
and it's at http://imusepub.com/lrsantos-1.php
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This article was posted on October 08,
2004
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