Why a Writer should also be a
Good Editor

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A good editor is like a diamond cutter – someone who can make the copy shine brighter. Editing is a vital skill for all writers. A good writer who doesn't know how to edit their own work is like a carpenter who doesn't know how to use sandpaper. The result can be content that is functional but with rough edges that take away from the experience.

Writers need to learn how to comb through their first draft with a fine eye – to sharpen and uplift it while retaining essence and individuality. Here are some tips to help you do just that:

Write Read Edit

In this order. First, write to your heart's content. Once you're done, step away from the piece for a while. Come back and read through the entire copy. Fix any flow or structuring issues. Once the structure is right, then start editing the piece.

Grammar is God

Well, almost so. One of the jobs of an editor is to check for grammatical mistakes such as syntax, punctuation, capital letters, italics, tenses, etc. Spelling errors are an absolute no-no. Once you've finished checking the entire document, check again!

Short and Sweet

Avoid unnecessary and difficult words. Be ruthless while deleting words that are not required and use simple language to hold your reader's attention with a crisp and clear message.

It's All in the Details

A good editor can strike the perfect balance between keeping the piece crisp and yet interesting by recognising which details are important to retain. Sometimes descriptions are necessary to explain a situation. But too much of detail can take away from the key message.

Create a Checklist

Editing can be a tedious and time-consuming task so it's a good idea to create a checklist detailing all the aspects that you need to go over. This can help you to get it right every time.

We have an A-team of writers and editors at The Information Company (TIC). And our content creation process includes steps for editing and peer review. To get in touch for any communication requirement, please visit www.ticworks.com, contact + 91 842 581 4016 / 17 or simply drop an email at solutions@ticworks.com

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If you are interested in a content editing workshop, please contact Suma Varughese on +91 98190 30781 or sumavarughese@gmail.com