Editing
Expect, allow, and accept that every first draft will represent your lowest standard and have at it.
A first draft is just that, a draft with its lack of organization, lack of cogent thought, poor syntax, grammatical errors, typos and spelling slip-ups, and other inaccuracies. So it needs revision, rewriting, spell checking, and more research. Thus, it needs editing. How does one go about that?
Probably the first step is to use the word processor grammar and spellchecker. Then it is time to look at the organization of the piece: Is it logical? Does it proceed to a climax? Are all the sentences relevant to each paragraph? Is each paragraph relevant to the overall theme and topic? Are the facts accurate? Do the paragraphs lead to the conclusion you intended? What needs to be removed? What needs to be added?
Of course, the way it is edited depends on whether it is fiction or non-fiction, and then if it is fiction, what kind: novel, short story, poetry, etc. Each genre has its own characteristics, rules, and reason. Similarly, if it is non-fiction, what kind is it: informational, expository, descriptive, argumentative, or humorous.
Next comes sentence structure. Does it have a variety of sentences as to length and type: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex? Do the sentences contain pet words and expressions? Do they contain colloquialism, slang, idioms, and trite language?
Is the language fitting to the subject matter? Formal, standard, informal, or common or avant-garde.
Finally, the work needs a re-read to be sure it is as perfect as it can be made, that it satisfies the writer?and especially the reader, the first one being the editor to whom it is sent.
If this sounds onerous, it is, but that's what writing is all about-to produce the best effort possible.
Charles O. Goulet has a BA in History and a BEd in English literature. He has written several historical novels that are available at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Barnes and Noble, and many other bookstores.
Lincoln Stretch rentals Alsip ..1. SECRETS TO SUCCESS2. MAKING A POWERFUL FIRST IMPRESSION3. AVOID... Read More
Today I took the dog for a walk and realized... Read More
Sailors had it for years. Great explorers had it as... Read More
Word processors are so widely used now that I tend... Read More
The writing community is a strong one, with many new... Read More
When you write for international audiences, mainly directly in English,... Read More
First impressions count in writing too! So it is always... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Our plotting stage is our testing area.Everything... Read More
Writing for the web is very different from writing for... Read More
What a wonderful resource the Internet is!Students find information to... Read More
Beginner's Blues: How to Collect Samples, Testimonials, and References as... Read More
Chances are, you'll be busy over the next several weeks.... Read More
Wired Online has recently announced its plans to drop capitalization... Read More
It was reported that the great American author Sinclair Lewis... Read More
1) Convince yourself you want to do something else. If... Read More
Last week I was having a quick browse on eBay... Read More
As in all endeavors, toil is necessary to succeed and... Read More
It occurred to me one day that I needed something... Read More
If you want to be a writer, you must write... Read More
Most of us hate housework.Nevertheless, even the most hopeless slobs... Read More
IntroductionSince our early days of elementary education we have been... Read More
Have you ever considered writing a book? If so, maybe... Read More
What Makes a Great Headline?Headlines are far more important than... Read More
Why is it that so many people don't take writing-as-a-job... Read More
What a lack of research could do to you.When creating... Read More
Western Springs shuttle limo ..If you find your sentences filled with commas, and they... Read More
Have you ever read someone else's writing and thought one... Read More
Is it possible to improve your writing instantly? The answer,... Read More
ADAPTATION 101Brimming with confidence, you've just signed the check purchasing... Read More
Self-examination sheds light on a writers motives, goals, and aspirations,... Read More
Most people can easily identify with the dreaded "writer's block".... Read More
ESSAY 2Andre Malraux once said that what interested him in... Read More
SALE, SAIL Sale is either offering something for purchase... Read More
Kallu was a tenant of Santosh Kumar Nayak. Santosh Kumar... Read More
A good white paper is a paper that makes you... Read More
Don't they drive you nuts?You can visit all the rules... Read More
Dr. Phil's Life Strategies, #1 New York Times Bestseller catches... Read More
FERRETING OUT WORK You keep hearing that there's work out... Read More
11 Secrets from an Experienced InterviewerOne of the unwritten rules... Read More
How to get a lot of traffic to your website... Read More
The Benefits of Co-Publishing There are a number of publishers,... Read More
Open any book on 'how to write,' and somewhere you... Read More
As a professional copywriter, not only do I do a... Read More
Everyone has a unique story to tell. From explaining business... Read More
The journey to having my first novel for children published... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?I have said above that if a... Read More
BAITED, BATEDBaited usually refers to traps or snares. When the... Read More
Whenever you sit down to plot a story (or even... Read More
There is a psychological nuisance so powerful that can deflate... Read More
One of the best ways to blow someone's winning streak... Read More
Writing |