5 More Self-Editing Tips

In the previous article, I’ve provided you 4 helpful self-editing tips. Because I know editing is a difficult task, I’ve decided to share more self-editing tips. Are you ready? Below, I’ve listed additional 5 self-editing tips just for you.

• Tip 1: Don’t be too hard on yourself.

  • You don’t need to achieve perfection. If you have applied the previous 4 self-editing tips, remind yourself that there is NO such thing as a perfect post. You don’t need to beat yourself up. I’m not saying that you should settle for so-so.
  • All I’m saying is writing is a journey. Sometimes, the road is bumpy.  There’s an impending deadline and you need to publish numerous posts in a span of a few days. Scrutinizing every post won’t bring you closer to your goal. Just do the best that you can, and if you made some mistakes along the way, learn from it. Move on and do better next time.

• Tip 2: Take a break.

  • When you are totally out of ideas, sometimes, it is best to give it a rest. Maybe you are stuck in a rut. Go out and get some fresh air. Order your favorite, and then, go back to where you left off. This time around, did you notice something different? Check out for anything that stand outs as coarse and bothersome. Try to rephrase it, and if it doesn’t work, delete it altogether.

• Tip 3: Stop repeating the pronouns.

  • Refrain from starting every sentence with a pronoun. I wrote this. He fixed that. She made this.  It is perfect! No, it’s not. Frankly, these sentences follow a boring routine. Spice things up!
  • Try your best not to start with a pronoun. Change your sentence structure from time to time to keep your readers glued to their screens. Compel them to read by adding diversity to your work.

• Tip 4: Avoid cliches!

  • Cliches are overused. When you are drafting your blog, find something unique. Search for uncommon terms and acquaint yourself with more ways to describe objects or circumstances.
  • If you ask me, writers are only effective if they are readers too. Reading helps widen your vocabulary, and most importantly, it broadens your perspective. You see things in a different light.  So, in order to write more, you need to read more.

• Tip 5: Organize and prioritize.

  • When things get messy, simply declutter. Remove the words that create clutter. Your blog post should be organized neatly, and there shouldn’t be confusion. Every word should have a purpose. If a word is not necessary, remove it.
  • If you think that the given topic is too long, divide it. Arrange and plan carefully what goes first. Then, make a follow up post if you think there are other things you need to discuss thoroughly. You don’t need to dump everything in one blog post.

Blogging is not an easy job, but with enough practice, you will get better. Don’t be afraid to start all over again. There are no standard rules here. It doesn’t follow the traditional norm. Feel free to experiment and break from the usual structure. Above all, dare to be different. Make waves and show the real you!