Editing Tips That I Learned Through Years!

" Wait 12 hours, then edit" is a basic piece of advice.

Professionals polish drafts in three steps:

Three editing types.

1. Developmental editing

2. Copy editing

3. Proofreading

I do them in that order.

You should start with the big picture and then zoom in.

Developmental editing = Structural editing

You can use it to evaluate:

> Does it answer 'the why' behind search intent?

> Is the narrative ordered correctly?

> Is the perspective accurately reflected?

> Is audience targeting on point?

> Are CTAs strategically placed?

A goal and purpose are essential for every piece of content. In other words, you're speaking to everyone without reaching anyone.

Format and goal also affect how you present ideas. Get this wrong, and edits like "killing passive voice" mean nothing.

Here is how I approach developmental editing:

1. Return to your draft after time away

2. Re-read the brief or realign on goals

3. Read the draft WITHOUT editing

Please do not fix small errors yet. You should instead leave structural notes throughout the document. You shift your mindset when you copy edit. Focus on what's important.

The next step is to reorganize sections & ideas. Think leadership articles aimed at seniors do not need to include a 'What Is Quality Content? '.

It might be necessary for context in a how-to-know for beginners. The goal gives you ideas to structure.

Copy editing = Flow, format, and function

Use it to check (1/2):

> Are arguments complete?

> Do paragraphs flow seamlessly?

> Are sentences written in active voice?

> Is it free of redundant words/phrases/ideas?

> Does it include “the why” behind “the what”?

> Does it have takeaways?

Use it to check (2/2):

> Are bulleted lists in the same tense (parallelism)?

> Are sources original and interpreted correctly?

> Does it include unique insights that help it stand out?

> Does it have spelling mistakes/awkward spacing/dialect errors)?

> Are headers tied to outcomes?

Running through copy editing ensures that:

> The narrative flows smoothly

> Every sentence adds value

> Questions are answered fully (what + why + how + takeaway)

The best content is easy to digest, interesting, and engaging.

Strong copy editing gets you there.

My copy editing process:

a) Reorganize/remove paragraphs as needed

b) For every claim, make sure the reason/benefit is clear

c) Make sure every single "what" has a "why"

d) Make general statements more specific

e) Check for readability (clear = better)

Here's the trick:

The key to catching things like this is to switch to an editor's mindset.

The goal of a writer's mind is to get ideas out.

In this case, "good enough" is more than enough. Detail-oriented thinking stunts creativity.

So...

The key to changing your mindset is to go from "this is good enough" to "what's missing?"

The purpose of your search is now to find:

> Holes in arguments

> Friction points in flow

> Generalizations

> Redundancy

> Wordiness, etc.

Proofreading = Nitpicking

Honestly, I don't spend much time proofreading. During a developmental edit, I catch most mistakes.