Writing is a beautiful art form, but its beauty only comes to the surface when it is well-edited. That’s where its true magic lies. So, while you can have great writing skills, you can only truly write well when you have good self-editing skills too, because this is what transforms a rough draft into a polished masterpiece.

Self-editing comes after

writing. It is the stage where you refine your ideas, streamline your prose and ensure your message shines through clearly. It is to perfect your own work — how to correct oversights, trim and replace clumsy words and phrases, delete your initial impulse of showing off all your knowledge in one piece of writing, so that you end up with a clear, concise message that will woo your readers.

In this article, let’s delve deeper into the self-editing secrets that will help you elevate your writing to perfection.

Take a break to gain fresh perspective

After completing your first draft, it’s essential to give yourself some distance, literally, from your work. Take a break — snack on something, take a walk, talk to someone, or best, come back to it after a few hours or a day.

This break allows you to approach your writing with fresh eyes, making it easier to spot simple errors, awkward wordings, unnecessary phrases, inconsistencies and areas that need improvement.

Detaching yourself for a period of time also helps to distance yourself emotionally from your work, so you can evaluate what you have written more objectively, helping you judge your writing in a more balanced manner. And only then you can bring yourself to cut out words and sentences which made so much sense when you first wrote it, but now seem unnecessary and repetitive.

Evaluate the big picture elements

When you begin the editing process, focus on the big picture elements first. Assess the overall structure, plot, character development and flow of your piece. Look for plot holes, weak transitions, or any words or ideas that may confuse your readers. Consider the flow of your writing or story, ensuring that the beginning, middle and end are well-defined and cohesive.

If you are going to make many changes at this stage, I suggest you make a soft copy of your original writing if you are working on the computer. This way you will have the original work to go back to and check in case you are later not satisfied with the many changes you made and can’t remember what you had originally written.

Trim the fat and eliminate clutter

One of the most crucial aspects of self-editing is eliminating unnecessary clutter from your writing. Trim down long sentences, remove repetitive phrases, delete filler and unnecessary words, and simplify complex ideas. Make sure each word and sentence serves a purpose, and remove all redundant words.

For instance, if you have written, “When I returned back home,” the word “back” is unnecessary, since “returned” already means to come back.

The idea is not to avoid writing details, but rather do it as succinctly as possible, without repeating your ideas. Repetition will not help in emphasising your points, it will only make your reader lose interest, thinking you have nothing new to say and stop reading midway.

Concise writing is more impactful, so choose the most powerful and precise words.

Read aloud for flow and rhythm

Reading your work aloud is an effective technique to catch errors and improve the flow of your writing. By listening to your words, you can identify awkward phrasing, detect missing punctuation, and notice any areas where your prose feels awkward or repetitive. Change anything that doesn’t make sense or that feels like a speed breaker on a smooth road. If you are stumbling over a part, that needs to go or be rephrased.

Ensure consistency and cohesion

Maintaining consistency and cohesion is vital for a polished piece of writing. Check for consistent tenses. One of the most common mistakes I find in editing is of writers switching from past to present tense and back at will, and even from the first person narrative to third person. This completely destroys even the best plot idea or article topic.

Ensure that your ideas flow logically from one paragraph to the next, using transitional words or phrases to guide your readers seamlessly through your work. Correct any discrepancies or contradictions that may confuse your readers.

Proofread diligently for grammar and spelling

Proofreading is the final stage of self-editing and involves a meticulous review of grammar, spelling, punctuation and typographical errors. You should, of course, keep correcting grammar and other errors as you come across them while editing, but after you have made all the changes, proofread carefully as many errors can be made while editing.

Use grammar and spell-check tools, but don’t solely rely on them. Take the time to carefully read through each sentence, paying attention to homophones, common mistakes, and any errors that may have slipped through automated checks. Make sure that your writing is error-free and polished.

Print out your work

Yes, once you think you have finished editing and proofreading, take a printout of your work, if you are not writing it down on paper, and go through it carefully. It may feel like a pain at first, but you will be surprised how mistakes can become more apparent in black and white, on a printout, while being easily missed on a computer screen.

Seek feedback and embrace revision

While self-editing is essential, getting feedback from others is equally valuable. Share your work with trusted friends, teachers, or join writing communities where you can exchange critiques and suggestions. Others may provide fresh perspectives, catch errors you missed, or offer constructive advice to enhance your writing further.

Embrace revision as a natural part of the writing process, and be open to incorporating feedback to refine your work even further.

Read it once more

It’s never enough when it comes to rereading what you have written. Take a break before this final reading, if you have time, and do it aloud, if possible. If you compare your initially draft, you will find that you’ve come a long way, and your writing is so much better.

Pro tip: Never send any work without first self-editing it thoroughly, especially if it is your mar­ked assignment, an important application and a piece for publishing. You may not get the chance to make corrections later on in these cases.

Remember, success only comes to those who take the extra steps that lead to it. So self-editing is a crucial skill that every writer should work on mastering.

Remember to approach the editing process with patience and a critical eye. With practice, you’ll refine your writing skills, develop a keen editorial sense, and ultimately achieve writing that shines with brilliance and perfection. Embrace the power of self-editing, and watch your writing soar to new heights.

Published in Dawn, Young World, July 15th, 2023