Jordan Ogren

May 17, 2022

The secret to writing well...

Let's talk about editing.

It's something I read little about. Yet it's easily one of the more critical elements of writing.

I understand that getting content on the page is challenging. But once you master the blank page, your next level is to master editing.

Editing is where you take semi-good writing and turn it into excellent writing. No one, and I repeat, NO ONE, writes gold on their first attempt.

It takes revisions and edits to get something to its highest level.

So, how do you edit well?

First, have a process. Define your steps to getting a piece finished. Only then can you optimize the process and improve in the future.

Here's my process when I write articles for Stop The Vanilla:

  1. Vomit to create a FUD (first ugly draft)
  2. Go for a walk and leave it to simmer for a day
  3. Edit for clarity and flow + tighten up long sentences, or delete unneeded words
  4. Send to my editor (Cindy on our team) for grammar and first-round flow edits
  5. Make revisions from Cindy's comments
  6. Send to my closer (Steve) to fill in any blanks, add his personality (the article is his), and finish it
  7. I do one final review and make any last changes needed, and ship

While it's taken a long time to get to a process, you can refine and improve the weak spots only once you have a process.

Second, have specific rounds of edits for particular things. Using the example above, Cindy is great at grammar and basic flow edits, so she comes early in the process. 

If you're unclear on what you need from the person editing your writing, they will edit for everything (e.g., flow, grammar, voice). Instead, have specific people, or rounds of edits, for specific things that make the editing process effective and smooth.

Third, ship the damn piece. You can fall into the trap of unlimited edits, which usually bring minimal improvements and waste time. By having a step for shipping, you ensure you ship.

I will write more on editing in the future, but I thought this was a good foundational piece to get you thinking.

Do you have a process for writing and editing?

If not, I'd highly recommend creating one.

🧠 + ❤️ // JO