Writing Practice Prescription

By

Barbara McNichol

As writers, we can get caught up in an idea or feel particularly attached to a word or phrase. Our writing can suffer as a result. When editing your own manuscript, dare to be brutally honest with yourself. To help you, here’s a list of tips and techniques for steering clear of common pitfalls and strengthening your manuscript along the way.

While you’re editing, ask these questions:
• Is every word, phrase, sentence, paragraph, section, and chapter necessary?
• Is the message clearly understood?
• Can your ideas be expressed more simply?

Miracles do happen, but you likely won’t say yes to these questions after your first round of writing. So incorporate the following five “rules of thumb” in your revisions. Doing so will eliminate 90% of the weak writing editors see every day.

Make subjects and verbs agree.
Incorrect: A group of writers were in town. (“group” is singular while “were” is plural)
Correct: A group of writers was in town. (“group” is the subject here, not “writers”)

Use parallel construction.
Weak: We’ve learned to read, write, and we’re making sure information is shared.
Stronger: We’ve learned to read, write, and share information.

Make the subject obvious.
Incorrect: Driving down the highway, the new stadium came into view. (Who was driving
down the highway…the stadium?)
Correct: We saw the new stadium as we drove down the highway.

Use the active voice.
Passive: It was decided that everyone would take the class.
Active: The principal decided every student would take the class.

Select the write word every time!
Do you ever confuse “further” with “farther” or “accept” with “except”? I offer a handy reference guide called Word Trippers. It features more than 300 word pairs with definitions and examples to make their meanings clear.

For your free Word Trippers ebook, email me with 2008 Word Trippers in subject line.

Remember these tips to edit your work with a keen eye and a sharp pencil (or keyboard).

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Barbara McNichol offers expert editing of articles, book proposals, and non-fiction books. Contact her at 520-615-7910 or editor@barbaramcnichol.com or www.BarbaraMcNichol.com