Most would agree that editing is the least appreciated stage of the writing process. Whereas discovering, drafting, and revising are all generally thought of as creative activities, editing is often regarded as a tedious exercise in fixing mistakes--a job better left to fussbudgets with green eyeshades and red pens.
But such a view misses the point that editing is an essential part of writing, not just a cosmetic afterthought.
Strictly defined as "preparing a text for publication," editing involves adding, deleting, and rearranging words along with recasting sentences and cutting the clutter. Tightening our writing and mending faults can turn out to be a remarkably creative activity, leading us to clarify ideas, fashion fresh images, and even radically rethink the way we approach a topic. Put another way, thoughtful editing can inspire further revision of our work.
So whether you edit on your own or with the help of others, take a look at our Checklist for Editing Paragraphs and Essays. Sure, it's designed to help you find and correct errors. But in the process it should also help you write more effectively and creatively.
More About Editing:
- Top Ten Editing Tips for Business Writers
- An Editor's Five Rules of Thumb
- Top 20 Tips From Newspaper Style Guides
Image: Arthur Quiller-Couch on Style: "Whenever you feel an impulse to perpetrate a piece of exceptionally fine writing, obey it--wholeheartedly--and delete it before sending your manuscript to press. Murder your darlings."
Comments
I think another sentence aspect should be put on the editing checklist: does the order of clauses in sentences, and sentences in paragraphs, lend clarity to the meaning and give weight of emphasis to what is important?