Got Editing Chops?
Editing chops. Not everyone has them. It’s that ability to be ruthless … brutal … with one’s own words. That’s not easy. Some people can’t believe every one of their precious words isn’t, well, precious. Others just don’t want to put in the time for real, intense editing.A good editor is usually a pretty good marketer. That’s because an editor can determine what makes a very strong message. So, how to edit? A few tips:
1. Consider Word Order –Adjectives go next to nouns. Important concepts lead a sentence.
2. Read Aloud – Words that may look good on paper can sound awkward when spoken. The only way to test out your text is to read aloud.
3. Check for Rhythm – Words have rhythm. Read aloud to check, but also consider some of the classic word combinations (from here to there; not for one but for all; I think therefore I am).
4. Your Best Just Ain’t Good Enough - Guess what? All that clever writing isn’t necessarily the stuff of clean copy. Best to take it out.
5. Write for Action – Active always trumps passive voice.
6. Hand it Over – Too painful to kill your own copy? Give it to someone else to slash and burn.
Be patient. It takes time to earn your chops – and a couple of bad bites – before getting it right.
