Sharpen Your Creative And Professional Work With Editing Services.
Contrary to popular belief, writing and editing are not mutually exclusive. Editing is the third phase of the writing process (after outlining and first drafting). It’s the act of refining work until it’s structurally sound and polished. It starts with structural editing of the major elements of a piece and ends with proofreading, which is the careful art of detecting all technical errors before publication.
I can edit pieces of any length or variety. And I can make edits based on the AP or Chicago manuals of styles. When you need not just a second set of eyes but a second brain, I can help you sharpen your pieces and publish them with confidence.
I can provide different kinds of editing services:
• Copy editing: The process of reviewing and correcting written material to improve accuracy, readability, and fitness for its purpose; and to ensure that it is free of error, omission, inconsistency, and repetition.
• Proofreading: The careful reading of a final draft to detect and correct errors and prepare the final draft for publication. The proofreader has the responsibility of ensuring there are no errors in the printed version.
• Developmental or Creative editing: Editing a piece, possibly at a structural level, to improve its outline, content or messaging.
I know how to give writers the specific kinds of criticism that they need. Because one of the most frustrating things that can happen to a writer is being given ill-informed criticism that doesn’t give clear guidance on how to make improvements.
Helpful criticism:
• Reflects back to the writer which ideas have been communicated in the piece.
• Identifies communication problems; such as ambiguous or confusing ideas, or missing information.
• Offers the critic’s emotional or gut reaction so that the writer may gauge if their piece is creating the correct emotional response in the reader.
• Acknowledges the difference between objective errors and stylistic suggestions.
• Offers examples that demonstrate how to impermanent the helpful criticism being given. For example, providing alternate phrasing of a sentence that doesn’t flow right.
• Gives specifics.
• Is well-supported.
• Helps you publish a stronger piece than if you had not received any criticism at all!
Unhelpful criticism:
• Reflects the critic’s personal stylistic or aesthetic preferences.
• Is vague in describing the problem.
• Is not concerned with improving the work that is published, but rather has any other goal in mind.
In short— Tell me if the engine in the car I’ve built runs properly and moves the vehicle; don’t tell me whether you like the color I’ve painted it!
The process of editing involves adding, deleting, and rearranging words along with recasting sentences and cutting the clutter. Tightening our writing and mending faults can turn out to be a remarkably creative activity, leading us to clarify ideas and realize new insights. Put another way, thoughtful editing can inspire further revision of our work.
So don’t think of editing as an activity that’s separate from writing. Get a writer to edit your work and publish cohesive, well-thought-out work.