This post is the final part of a short series about the writing process and how to create content from start to finish.
Being done. It’s a nice feeling- we all get to mark something off of our lists. People who use our content are happy there’s new stuff to consume. You’ll get the opportunity to work on something different. The sense of accomplishment is in the air.
How do you know when you’re done with a piece of content? That’s what the second edit is for. Here are some techniques I use for the final piece:
- Know The Difference Between Editing And Changing
There’s a point where you are no longer making progess in an edit. If you’re really banging your head against the wall over a phrase or a sentence, try omitting it. Most good editing is about cutting things out.
But if you just can’t stop yourself from going back to it (and this applies to the piece as a whole, too), realize that you’re wasting your time. After a certain point, you can no longer improve writing; you can only change it. It’s not better, it’s just different. Recognize that and move on.
- Use Cues
In the last post, we talked about creating some markers for tone and style. You want examples from your first edit on what works well. You also want some signposts on what to stay away from, too, especially if you’re creating content for a client, your supervisor, etc. For a consistent and coherent piece of writing, it’s important to stick with those cues.
I sometimes keep sentences that I’ve edited out on the first round. Move them to the bottom of the page. If you get stuck on a phrase or sentence later in the piece, you can refer to what you’re excluding. If the part in question looks or sounds something like that, axe it.
- Read Out Loud
Read the entire piece out loud to yourself. If you have to stop to make a correction, go back a bit before starting again, just to pick up the rhythm. Don’t skip anything; read through to the end.
It’s surprising how many people choose not to do this. It’s an easy check, and it makes a huge difference in the quality of your finished work. Plus, reading aloud helps to prepare you for other writing- hearing the words that you’ve created can be a confidence booster, and that’s hugely important when writing content.
- Always Preview
The way your writing sounds when you write it can be completely different when you publish it, depending on format. Always preview your content in the format that it will be published in.
The design is just as important as the content. O.k., maybe not in every format- there’s not much design content in, say, a congressional report. But maybe there should be (they’d have a better chance at getting read).
A lot of people look forward to editing; the hard part, creating, is done. Others dread editing, feeling like it bogs down the process. Whatever your feelings on it, you have to edit. At least twice. If you want professional looking work, there’s no other way to do it. There are no shortcuts.
After going through your second edit, you should be ready to publish. Don’t consider your work done until, well, you’re done.
Writing something with those qualities takes real practice and effort. It’s worth gathering as many tips on technique as you can (preferably before you’ve got to sit down and write something).