Non-fiction and fiction demands to be critiqued. Of course, this eliminates those who get it perfect on draft one. Some never have the task of critiquing their work, for the sixth time.

Most of us must strengthen our editing abilities.

“How do you edit?” You coughed.

Read through your article, essay, poem, chapter, or term paper once. Put it down.

Take a walk. Read the book you meant to last year. Clean off your desk, start an exercise program, or telephone someone you’ve wanted to.

On day two, read it out-loud. You’re checking for mis-statements, typos, omissions, syntax errors, grammatical slip-ups, and weak writing. Is the correct phrases situated in your writing? Take notice of run-on sentences. Form every sentence according to standard.

Reading out-loud allows you to hear words. Say them slowly. Did the sentence(s) sound right? If not, find out why. Determine if the subject and verb match.

“I stand to get a better look at who screamed, but it was a prank.”

In order for the subject and verb to agree, stand should be changed to stood.

Are there too many adjectives? Use strong verbs where possible. Did you use the wrong word?

“What do you mean?” You sighed.

I’m referring to typing a word you didn’t mean to. You typed bear instead of bare, for example. It isn’t hard to tap out hear when here is the intended word.

Walk through the editing process slowly. It’s better to do a good job when you critique than get a rejection.

Write as if you’re talking to an acquaintance, friend, in non-fiction.
Provide easy to understand words, and be direct.

Sometimes, a question comes to mind when non-fiction or fiction is
read So, anticipate questions, and answer them.

Fiction yearns for an exciting plot. Plot is the steps taken to solve a
problem.

Characters grab, hold, the reader’s attention. Often, readers escape
into the world you created, because it’s written well. Many times, people identify with a character, dislike a character’s best friend, know a person similar to the villain, and/or something in the story makes him/her angry, happy.

The critiquing of any piece of writing is complete when every word has been checked.

The editing process is more challenging than the writing.

Spend time on dialogue. It mirrors speech. It’s an imitation.

Let’s look at examples.

How many people say?

“Who is going with us?”

They’d utter.

“Whose goin’ with?” or “Whose goin’ with us?”

What is most likely to be said?

“I have been around.” or “I’ve been ’round.”

I’d use the second sentence.

There are books on writing dialogue, but I learned, more,
by listening to people talk.

Editing is a segment, part, of writing. The act of editing will make you better at the craft.

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