Writing cannot really exist as an art without editing. Professional writers know better than to submit a rough raw draft. In fact, they would not want anyone to print or read such a thing.
Any good writer will take a read-through of any work before submitting it, because there are very, very few pieces that cannot be improved through editing.
How Editing Works
Editing does not mean just removing some words or paragraphs to make a piece of writing shorter. First comes proofreading to remove the technical errors such as typos or grammatical problems. The first draft is sure to have words left out, inconsistent tenses, words that have been accidentally doubled up, or words that are used incorrectly. This is above and beyond the grammatical errors, punctuation errors, run-on or fragmented sentences, misspellings and other errors that tend to crop up.
Modern writers have an advantage writers in the past did not. Once, someone had to go through a finished work with a red pen (or something similar), marking off the errors by hand. The writer would then have to retype the entire thing. Computers and word processing applications make it easy to edit on the fly, going back and fixing the errors on the screen, not matter how big or how small.
Keep an eye out for long sentences to see if they might be shortened somehow. Instead of using a number of conjunctions, just try two or three smaller sentences.
Long paragraphs are often not optimal, either, especially for internet writing. Edit them so they can be broken into more easily absorbable bits. Subtitles, bullet points and other such methods help break up the writing into small segments.
The opening paragraph should have enough impact to draw in readers, so they are interested in the rest of the story. The final paragraph should also have a powerful impact. One introduces the main concept, while the other concludes it.
The Professional Editing Process
A publisher will send a manuscript through the editing process several times before publishing a completed work. Articles and short stories will have slightly altered content before being printed in a newspaper, journal or magazine. Even web content may be changed in format before being posted on a website.
Publishers often employ professional editors who know the work well. They are adept at condensing writing or altering the format when it is required to do so. All of this is done without changing the voice of the author or the style of the writing.
Professional editors work directly with the writer, offering suggestions for ways the writing may be improved, and asking permission before making any sweeping changes. The author will gain right of final approval on all changes and can even make some changes before submitting the final document.
Why Editing is Important
A professionally published book is a collaborative effort between a writer and an editor employed by the publisher. Periodical publications need editors so their magazines or newspapers have a consistent style.
Writers who work on their own still need to edit and revise until the piece fits the vision the author had for it. For an author, name is everything, so it is necessary to submit only the best possible work.
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About the Author:
Jenna Patterson ~ Copywriter with exceptional copywriting, proofreading and creative skills. Consistently produces high-quality print and web-based communications for various audiences with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to top-notch quality. Truly blessed with an aptitude for synthesizing complex technical information into clear, user-friendly copy. Contact Jenna at www.freelancewritingdesk.com
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