That Editing Thing
That Editing Thing
By Tom Howe
There is no great writing, only great rewriting.
~ Justice Brandeis
I’ve been a writer for many years, since I’m so old and everything, so have spent many and many an hour editing. A lot more hours editing than writing, actually, so it’s well into the thousands of hours by now. I had become as good at it as any non-objective person could be, I thought. Not that I figured I could make something of mine perfect at all. But I did think I had mastered most of the tricks of the trade, at least, and knew my own mind well enough to realize it when I felt something needed to be changed from the original words.
I was wrong, again. Learnage ho.
You see there’s this thing, this feeling. It’s very subtle, at least in me, and hardly even there at all, unless you know to look for it. It’s the kind of thing you only learn after countless similar experiences, because you can’t even see it unless you’ve been looking in that direction so long you are almost blind and have to use your ears to see.
It’s a way to tell when something is wrong. Read the rest of the Fabulous Article
Writing Skills - 5 Ways to Effectively Present Yourself With Words
Writing Skills - 5 Ways to Effectively Present Yourself With Words
By Jan Verhoeff
Printed words intimidate the most fluent speaker. Redundant as the concept may be, a speaker who must present himself with words on paper often steps back from the podium and takes a double look. Who wants to write it down?
But, sometimes you must write.
When those times smack you in the rump, these tips should help you get the most from your words.
1. Write in your own voice.
Nothing bores more than reading a writer who isn’t sure who’s speaking. I don’t mind seeing the word *I* if it means something. Give me substance I can relate to and information that means something to YOU too. I don’t need a scientific report, and if I do, I can find that research too. Get personal, use your own voice to present your message.
2. Use action words and phrases.
They’re called verbs. USE them. Motivate your reader with action words that tell what you want to say and give them a shove into action. Spot is running may tell you what he did, but who cares, we want to know more… Spot ran home. There’s information. Brad broke the bank tells you more about Brad than Brad is broke. Escape bland and boring - USE VERBS. Read the rest of the Fabulous Article
