Writing tips
Ten tips for editing your own words
The first draft is written. As the American author Jodi Picoult argues: “You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.”
Many regard editing as arduous, time-consuming and difficult to do when you have written something yourself. That may be true, but it’s also essential to ensure that all the hard graft which you have put into researching and writing is shown off to best effect.
Here are 10 tips to help you through the process:
1. Take a break The good news is that, once you’ve finished writing, you’ve earned a rest. Take it. If you can leave your piece, at least overnight, you’ll have the fresh eyes you need to give it the polish it deserves.
2. Be focused At the outset remind yourself: what is the central point or argument that I’m trying to make? “Clarity of thought is the key to clarity in writing,” notes The Financial Times’ style guide on its opening page.
3. Add signposts Ensure that, as it develops, your argument is clearly signposted. Whether it’s a 500-word blog or a 5,000-word report, few readers are going to navigate an obstacle course simply to get to the end. Most will just turn the page to read something by a writer who has the good sense and good manners to lend them a helping hand.
4. Less is definitely more Keeping what you want to say at the forefront of your mind will help you accomplish one of the most important tasks of editing: cutting some of what you have just written. As one of George Orwell’s six elementary rules states: “If it’s possible to cut out a word, always cut it out.” Don’t be afraid to wield the axe; it’s a rare piece that isn’t improved by losing (at least) a few words. Clear the thicket of superfluity. Ruthlessly chop down deviation and repetition wherever you encounter it. And, while we’re on the subject of repetition, if you find there’s some words you’re using far too often, try using a thesaurus to find an alternative.
5. Get to the point Say what you mean and don’t overcomplicate. Among the “literary offences” Mark Twain famously detailed are two injunctions which are relevant here. A good writer, he wrote, should “say what he is proposing to say, not merely come near it” and “employ a simple and straightforward style”.
6. Begin at the beginning You should aim to hook the reader in the first paragraph of your story. Tell them something that will capture their attention – a statistic, quote, fact or anecdote that will entertain, surprise or intrigue them. Chances are, if you’ve sated their appetite at the start, they’ll read on. Don’t force them to wade through hundreds of words before you tell them the most interesting thing you have to say. Your article isn’t a treasure hunt. You should also consider adding what journalists call the “nut graph” – a paragraph of context close to the top of your piece, which has been described as “telling the reader what the writer is up to”. At the Philadelphia Inquirer, reporters and editors call it the “You may have wondered why we invited you to this party?” section.
7. Focus on the details Always check for consistency, grammar and spelling. Being careless with these not only distracts the reader, it may also lead them to question the credibility and accuracy of what you have to say.
8. Avoid Jargon There is no shame in using “everyday English”, as Orwell calls it. Outside of a McKinsey presentation, think-tank seminar or civil service training course, nobody uses, or understands, management speak and policy jargon. It obscures, confuses and is invariably ugly. If you come across words or phrases like “granularity”, “upstream interventions” or “quick wins” in your piece, they must go. (If you’re really not sure what I mean, there’s some useful examples here and here).
9. Avoid clichés and common pitfalls Try to avoid using the passive voice. “Jack beat John” is better than “John was beaten by Jack”. Clichés provoke a similar shudder in many subeditors. “We should also try to avoid clichés such as ‘basically’, ‘bombshell’, ‘gunned down’, ‘quantum leap’, or ‘unique’,” argues The Times Guide to English Style and Usage. And many subs aren’t huge fans of adverbs, either. “Adverbs weaken your copy because these excess words are not truly descriptive,” suggests Alexis Grant, founder of The Write Life, “find a more powerful verb to replace the weak verb + weak -ly adverb combo.” The words of Stephen King – “the road to hell is paved with adverbs” – might help you to remember this one. But, if you’re going to defy it, remember that there is no need for a hyphen between an adverb and the verb it qualifies.
10. Mind your tone The Economist encourages its writers to follow these six rules if they want to engage readers:
• Do not be stuffy;
• Do not be hectoring or arrogant;
• Do not be too pleased with yourself;
• Do not be too chatty;
• Do not be too didactic;
• Do your best to be lucid.
It's natural to believe that the hard slog of writing has produced the best that you (or, indeed, anybody) can do. But stand back. Read what you have written (aloud if necessary) not with your eye, but that of the potential reader. They’ll thank you for it.
