Tips for Editing Your Wizzley Writing
Wait! Before you publish that Wizzley page, employ these editing tips to make sure your writing is in top notch shape.
As I've traversed the world of Wizzley and Squidoo and other content sites, I've read lots of great writing, but I've also noticed quite a few minor errors. I have no desire to be the grammar police and I realize that no page or lens or post will ever be perfect, but I'd like to share a few easy tips that will help all of us improve our writing and appear more professional.
Conveying an image of professionalism is incredibly important if we desire to be taken seriously. When I read a page riddled with errors it immediately sends up a red flag and I subconsciously question if the writer took time to edit and polish.
Thankfully, on Wizzley this is less of an issue since content is monitored and the expectations are higher. However, even the best of writers are prone to mistakes. It can only benefit us all to put a little extra care into proofreading and polishing our work.
Haste makes mistakes!
I tell my writing students to write something and put it away for a day or two. That gives time for subjective feelings and attachment to your words to settle down. When you take it out and read it again you'll be much more objective and have a keener eye for detail.
As much as we all want to write Wizzley pages as quickly as possible, it pays to go slow and steady.
Read It Aloud
Once you've taken a day or two off from your words, go back and read your page word for word aloud. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to spot mistakes.
Reading it aloud also helps you hear the cadence and flow. Your ear will easily detect places where things sound out of place. You'll also note areas that need more detail or some elaboration.
It's not enough to read it silently. You won't notice errors as keenly as you will when you read it aloud exactly as it's written.
Check Your Spelling
I haven't seen glaring spelling errors on most Wizzley pages. Rather, two minor issues keep showing up fairly often.
1. Remember to add an "s" to plural nouns. This seems to be an easy thing to forget. I'm guessing it's because of hasty typing.
2. Check for transposed letters. Again, likely an issue of fingers flying too fast.
Write in Complete Sentences
A sentence is a complete thought. It generally has at least a subject and a verb. Check to be sure that your sentences have both parts. It's easy to write a sentence fragment and mistake it for a complete sentence.
On the other hand, a run-on sentence isn't really one complete thought either. Instead, it's a series of thoughts that go on and on forever and connect in some fashion but really need to be divided into a variety of sentences or complete thoughts in order to make the writing clearer than mud and easy to read and understand or else it just confuses the reader. See what I mean?
Don't forget to begin your sentences with capital letters and punctuate at the end.
Is It Past, Present, or Future?
Are you writing as though you're looking back at something that happened in the past? Are you writing in the present, in the now? Are you looking to the future of what will be?
Pick one and stick with it.
Make sure all of your verb tenses agree with whichever time frame you've chosen. If it "was" in one sentence, it can't switch to "is" in the next one.
When in Doubt, Check It Out
If you're unsure of something or it simply doesn't look or feel quite right, take time to check it out. Most of the answers you need are only a click away.
What is Your Most Common Writing Mistake?
Do you know how hard it is to write about editing your work when you know that everyone is going to read your page with a watchful eye, hoping to find an error or two? I nervously welcome your feedback and please do share if you find mistakes on this page.
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Share Your Thoughts and Tips
What wonderful tips and put so that even I, slightly cracked egg that I am, can understand!! Thank you!!