A huge part of writing is revising. This is especially true
when it comes to longer, more in-depth pieces, such as lengthy magazine
articles, short stories and books. Every writer needs an editor to help her
develop the flow, point out parts that don’t make sense and simply correct
grammatical errors or typos.
But before you ask a trusted colleague to read your piece or
hire a professional editor, make sure you’ve done a complete self edit. First,
give your work some room to breathe. Set it aside for a day or even two and
then come back to it with fresh eyes. You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is
to find the problem areas.
Go through the piece carefully, looking for extraneous
or overused words along with trite phrases or clichés.
Here’s a great article from The Writer magazine with seven editing questions to ask yourself as
you review your piece. One great tip is to read your work aloud. It helps you
discover awkward sentences or cumbersome phrasing.
What are your tried-and-true editing tips and techniques?
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