Three Reasons to Edit

When my daughter emailed me her dissertation to edit, she noted in her cover message, “Mom, I remember your advice to ask someone to proof my work before I turn it in. Will you be my extra set of eyes?”

That’s today’s writing tip:

Have someone proof your writing before submission.

It doesn’t matter what you’re writing: a school essay, a resumé, a blog post or a letter to your grandma. Have someone, preferably with good grammar and spelling skills, give your words a once-over first.

You may think you’ve caught every error in your work but, trust me, you haven’t. I find errors all the time in my local newspaper. And those stories have been proofed by experienced editors. I also find errors in my favorite books. There’s no telling how many times an author has read those chapters, along with critique partners and professional publishing editors.

The idea is to cut down on the number of errors readers find. Don’t let your blood, sweat and tears go to waste. Ensure your project’s success by taking the extra step of enlisting an objective proofreader.

You might say, but I don’t have the time. That’s no excuse. Build it into your schedule. Here’s why:

1. Respect. Writing is a finished product that lasts forever. Wouldn’t you rather your descendents read your work and say, “Awesome writing!” rather than, “Look! Aunt Jill misspelled a word.”
2. Embarrassment. I know a respected author who recently published a novel independent of a traditional publisher. I couldn’t wait to read that book. When I settled into it, I realized grammatical and spelling errors sprinkled the pages. I learned later that he was mortified by the reader comments.
3. Success. Poor spelling and grammar can mean the difference between an A and a C. They can separate job seekers into two stacks of resumés—those to interview and those to send a letter of regret. A polished product can boost blog followers and prompt a birthday check from Grandma.

What’s holding you back from asking for editing help? Also, let me know if you find an error in this blog. There’s at least one. Comment and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a free book at the end of the month.