editing in creative writing

Looking to publish? Meet your dream editor, designer and marketer on Reedsy.

Find the perfect editor for your next book

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Guides • Understanding Publishing

Last updated on May 05, 2023

Types of Editing: An Inside Look at What Editors Do

About the author.

Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.

About Martin Cavannagh

Head of Content at Reedsy, Martin has spent over eight years helping writers turn their ambitions into reality. As a voice in the indie publishing space, he has written for a number of outlets and spoken at conferences, including the 2024 Writers Summit at the London Book Fair.

Literary editors are a writer's best friend — they have the skills, experience, and knowledge to take your manuscript to the next level. However, not all editors do the same job and it's important to understand what type of editing your project needs at any given stage.

In this guide, we’ll take you through the different types of editing and offer insights from Reedsy's deep roster of expert manuscript editors . 

5 common types of editing in publishing:

1. Editorial assessment

2. developmental editing, 3. copy editing, 4. proofreading, 5. fact-checking.

An editorial assessment is often the first piece of professional help a manuscript will receive. Your editor will offer you some broad, insightful feedback on major strengths and weaknesses in your plot, characters, or structure.

“In an editorial assessment, the author wouldn’t receive comments and example rewrites in the manuscript,” says genre fiction editor Leah Brown . “Instead, they would receive a letter that focuses on the broad strokes. An editorial assessment is best for an author who is early in the process and whose manuscript may be messier.”

Seeking out an editorial assessment early on will make the job of a developmental and copy edit later down the line much easier. Similarly, they can help you determine whether your work is ready for querying before you contact any literary agents. 

What kind of editing does your book need?

Takes one minute!

Developmental editing — also called content or substantive editing — involves an editor providing detailed feedback on “big-picture” issues. They’ll refine your ideas, shape your narrative, and help you fix any major plot or character inconsistencies to tell you if any elements of your story just don’t work. It’s similar to an editorial assessment but contains much more detail.

“For a developmental edit, I look at some of the larger questions,” says editor Mary-Theresa Hussey . “Why are the characters behaving as they do? What are their motivations? Do these scenes add to the overall story? What is your underlying theme, and how does it change?” 

Your editor will return an annotated manuscript, a marked-up version of the original manuscript with specific suggestions for each issue, and an editorial report. This is essentially a summary of the raw feedback left on the manuscript. 

Polish your book with expert help

The best developmental editors are on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Learn how Reedsy can help you craft a beautiful book.

Copy editing is the next step after you're certain you've solved your book's big-picture issues. An editor will read your work on the lookout for anything that makes it less readable, like word repetition or character inconsistencies. This type is also known as mechanical or line editing, depending on its particular application.

“A copy editor’s job is to bring the author’s completed manuscript to a more professional level ,” says editor Chersti Nieveen . “A copy edit helps create the most readable version of your book, improving clarity, coherency, consistency, and correctness. The goal is to bridge any remaining gaps between the author’s intent and the reader’s understanding.”

What elements do copy editors consider?

A copy editor examines and corrects the following elements in your work:

• Capitalization
• Word usage and repetition
• Dialogue tags
• Usage of numbers or numerals
• POV/tense (to fix any unintentional shifts)
• Descriptive inconsistencies (character descriptions, locations, blocking, etc.)

It’d be pretty distracting to your reader if you constantly misplace the comma next to quotemarks  or misspell the word “restaurant.” Copy editing ensures that errors like these don’t happen, so your writing is as strong as possible, and your reader remains 100% focused on the story. They can also help make sure that you’re using the right terminology and that you’re using inclusive language in your writing.

Is line editing the same as copy editing? 

People often use "line editing" and "copy editing" interchangeably — but they’re not exactly the same thing. To clarify: line editing focuses specifically on the content and flow of your prose . It’s also called 'stylistic editing' since it concentrates on style rather than mechanics.

In other words, it still falls under the umbrella of copy editing but is more precise. While a full copy edit looks at all of the elements listed in the bullets above, a line edit would only consider word usage, POV/tense, and descriptive inconsistencies and provide more detailed suggestions on strengthening the prose.

If you feel incredibly confident about the mechanics of your prose but less so about its flow and style, you might request that your copy editor focus their energy on line editing alone. After all, a proofreader can always catch any minor errors that slip through the cracks.

And speaking of proofreaders...

Proofreading is the last major stage of the editing process. Proofreaders are eagle-eyed inspectors who ensure no spelling or grammar errors make it to the final version of your work . 

Back in the day, an impression of a metal plate would be created as “proof” of a fully formatted book . But before that happened, it would be triple-checked by the proofreader, who made sure the publisher didn’t churn out thousands of copies of a novel called A Tale of Tow Cities .

Even with modern digital typesetting, proofreaders still often work from physical proofs, often using a language of their own , as they go. They’ll watch out for:

• Inconsistencies in spelling and style;
• Inconsistencies in layout and typography;
• Confusing or awkward page and word breaks;
• Incorrect captioning on any illustrations and page numbers in the contents.

Although most issues will be resolved by this stage, proofreaders still scrutinize the text for anything previous edits might have missed. Hopefully, they don’t find much, but better safe than sorry!

The style sheet

When working with a proofreader, you should provide them with a style sheet that notifies them of any unusual spellings or styles in your manuscript — for example, if you’ve written a second-world novel and have invented some words. Otherwise, they’ll read your manuscript “blind,” which is still pretty effective but may not incorporate every little detail of your work.

Once they’re done, your proofreader will return a marked-up document for you to revise one final time. After making those changes, you should be ready to send your manuscript into production, either by working with a typesetter or using a free tool like Reedsy Studio  to export your ebook.

No matter how thoroughly you research your book, it can still end up with informational inconsistencies — and that's a fact (pun fully intended). Developmental and copy editors can help with this, but at the end of the day, it’s not their responsibility to fact-check.

If you have a lot of niche information in your book, and especially if it’s a topic you’ve never written on before — you might consider getting a designated fact-checker to comb through it. They’ll note all the factual references in your book, then carefully confirm them via external sources; if they find any inaccuracies, they’ll alert you immediately. 

This type of editing is particularly crucial if you’re writing nonfiction (and dedicated nonfiction editors are often experienced fact-checkers too ). But getting a trained eye on your manuscript can also be very helpful for historical fiction and hard sci-fi works.

Of course, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your book is the same — a quick self-edit won’t be enough if you want to be a successful author (whatever that means to you). An outside perspective from a professional editor, will help you lay the foundation the right way. With that in mind, you’re ready to go forth and conquer the world — the world of editing!

To learn how to find an editor to work on your book, proceed to the next post in this series.

3 responses

Emily Bradley says:

08/05/2019 – 12:28

A good editor would have caught the fact that that those are lilac blossoms over the book, not lavender. :)

29/06/2019 – 15:50

Are these out of order? Would you get copy-editing before line editing?

↪️ Martin Cavannagh replied:

01/07/2019 – 09:04

In terms of the order in which you'd get them — you're right that you'd look at line editing before a strict copy-edit, though realistically a copyeditor in publishing would be doing both, in a way. We'll have a look at swapping these around just for clarity. Thanks, Tom!

Comments are currently closed.

Join a community of over 1 million authors

Reedsy is more than just a blog. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book.

Get a professional opinion on your book

To get expert advice on revising, ask for an "editorial assessment."

1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Enter your email or get started with a social account:

How to Edit a Short Story: A Step-By-Step Process Every Writer Can Handle

by Sarah Gribble | 0 comments

Start Your Story TODAY! We’re teaching a new LIVE workshop this week to help you start your next book. Learn more and sign up here.

Writing a short story is difficult, but there's a special learning curve that comes with how to edit a short story. Even though there is a small word count, where do you start?

The editing process might not be your favorite part of the writing process (or maybe it is!), but it's a necessary one.

Editing your short story can push the story idea into a whole new arena, which will make it more likely to grab a reader, whether or not that's a fellow writer, editor, or writing contest judge.

In this article, I’ll take you through the step-by-step process of editing a short story. I'll share the step-by-step process you should use to break down your editing phase into manageable chunks and what to focus on with each editing pass.

Editing Isn't Fun, but It's Necessary

Editing is my least favorite part of writing. It’s overwhelming and often tedious. I’ve known a lot of “new” writers who just flat out refuse to edit any parts of a story after they finish writing—let alone an entire story.

They might look for spelling mistakes or typos, but change nothing about the story structure or prose. I’ve watched those same writers try to get published and get rejection after rejection. Until they learn the necessity of editing.

Only after editing do they get published.

Writing is fun. Well, writing the first draft is fun. It’s an exercise in creative freedom. You’re excited about the story. It takes overtakes you and flies you away. It’s an exhilarating feeling. Play with that. Experiment. Let your characters and your world run wild.

But the point of writing, at least for most writers, is for someone to read the story. And preferably, like the story.

You’re writing for readers.

I know that takes the artsy-ness of writing away, but it’s the truth. The sooner you come to terms with that, the sooner you’ll be able to edit your work for those readers’ enjoyment and get published.

Finish the First Draft, Then Take a Break

We’ve talked about writing the first draft in one sitting. That’s a must, in my book, especially if the story is under five thousand words.

After the story is written, take a break. This is also a must in my book. You have to shift your brain’s focus from writer mode to editor mode. The only way to do that is to get away from your story for a while.

Put the story away and out of your mind for at least a couple of days. I recommend a three-day hiatus at this stage. That’s just enough for you to forget what you wrote and why you wrote it that way, but not enough time to lose interest in the story. Putting it away for a couple of weeks will cause the excitement to wan, so avoid that if possible.

Don’t look at it. Don’t edit it. Don’t even think about it.

Read a book, get some sleep, or work on another story. Fight the urge to edit right away!

The goal here is to come back to the story not caring (as much) about your characters or that pretty line of description you wrote. You’re coming back with a hacksaw, ready to do some damage. Hearts need not attend.

Tackle the Big Picture

You’ve had a break and hopefully you’ve forgotten why you loved this specific turn of phrase or that overlong description. Now you’re going to get brutal. You’re going to cut, add, and rearrange with all the mercy of a general on a battlefield.

First thing: make sure your story is a story!

When I first started writing shorts, it was all nonsense. Halfway decent prose, but utter nonsense. There was no point. There was no character development. There was no climax. In short, I hadn’t written a story at all.

A short story is different from a novel. You don’t have time to ramble. But a short story is still a story and needs to read like one. It must contain all the elements I mentioned mine lacked. It must have structure. (Remember the six elements?) And it must have a beginning, middle, and end.

Sounds like a lot, right? Try these steps to tackle this stage of editing:

Read through your story like a reader. That means from beginning to end, straight through. Don’t take notes. Don’t worry about commas. At this stage, you’re looking to see if you think the story is good.

Okay, there is a high possibility that you hate your story after step one. That’s completely normal. You do not suck as a writer. First drafts (and second drafts, and sometimes third drafts) are nowhere near perfect. They’re not supposed to be. Don’t give up now. You can fix what you don’t like. Move on to step two.

Read through as an editor.

Get out that red pen. It’s time to make those pages bleed. If you didn’t like something in your story when you put on your reader hat, figure out what you didn’t like.

Was a bit of dialogue weird? Did it lag and bore you in a certain spot? Was the ending too abrupt? Was this character’s action unbelievable? Is there a character arc? (Is something different for your character at the end than how they started in the beginning?) Is the story an actual story (does it have all the elements of plot )?

Make those notes, but remember, you’re still not worrying about commas and spelling. You’re looking at higher-level concepts.

Make sure your story has all six elements of plot . Make notes of each element in the margins of your story. Are they all there?

If not, you’ve got to get them all in there. If they are there, are they approximately where they need to be? (The inciting incident isn’t coming in at the fifty percent mark, for example.) If they’re not, things need to be shifted, and that could mean cutting scenes or adding scenes.

This is a structural edit. Don’t get bogged down in pretty prose or amazing descriptions. You’re making the bones of this story work right now.

Fleshing out comes later.

Once you’ve got the big chunks taken care of and things are starting to shape up into something that resembles a solid story, you can move on to smaller edits.

Look at the Small Picture

I still consider this stage to be part of the second draft, but some would call it a third.

You’ve rewritten, cut, added, and restructured your first draft at this point. Now you’re going to look at some prose and rework that.

Some things to think about at this stage:

• Is the dialogue believable? I highly recommend reading the dialogue aloud. This is by far the fastest way to catch something that sounds lame or unbelievable.
• Are the descriptions well-written? Are there any spots descriptions need added or cut? Remember, since this is a short story, the descriptions aren’t going to go on for paragraphs, but the reader should still be centered in the setting and be able to picture what’s happening.
• Are details consistent? Check your timeline, any locations, descriptions of characters, any backstory hints, etc. I once wrote a short story where my main character punched a wall and broke his hand and then it was never mentioned again. Apparently, he miraculously healed two sentences later and went about his life like nothing had ever happened. Don’t make that mistake.
• Active voice: Haley shut the door.
• Passive voice: The door was shut by Haley.

See how the passive voice example adds a couple of words (those couple of words will add up if you consistently use passive voice) and sounds kind of wonky? There are times when passive voice is perfectly fine to use, but try to stick with active voice as much as possible.

After you’ve looked at the details, you’ve got a pretty solid second draft. But you’re still not done!

Get Feedback on Your Short Story

Yes, you need to show your work to someone.

Specific and honest feedback is the most important thing in writing. There is no substitute for getting someone else’s eyes on your work. You can read something a thousand times and you’ll still miss things.

Whether it’s something simple like a missing word or misplaced comma, or something glaring like a character snafu or a world-building misunderstanding, your beta readers will catch it.

But they can’t catch it if you don’t show it to them!

Note:  I recommend finding people other than family and friends to read your work. People who know you are less likely to give you honest feedback. Mostly you’ll just hear, “Oh, I like it!” and that’s it.

This isn’t only because they’re afraid of upsetting you, but they’re also probably not trained as an active reader (even if they are an avid reader). This means that they might like or dislike your story, but can’t find the words to tell you why they feel that way.

If you can’t find a writing group , that’s fine, but make sure you try to push your beta readers to give you useful feedback.

If you’re not sure how to ask for useful feedback, try taking a look back at the short story musts and mistakes I listed in the first post to get ideas on what questions to ask your betas.

Specificity helps here, so don’t go with something simple like, “Did you like it?”

Pro tip : Don’t watch them while they read. I know it’s tempting (Are they going to laugh at that funny line? Are they going to tear up when that character dies?), but don’t. That’s too much pressure on them, and WAY too nerve-racking for you.

During this stage, just like I suggested between drafts one and two, you need to put your story away.

You’ll be tempted to rewrite as your feedback comes in. A quick word change there, a sentence deleted here, and then you feel like you’ve got a whole new draft. Which makes you want to send all your friends your “new” draft.

There is nothing more annoying than having to start reading something from the beginning when you’re in the middle of critiquing. Sharing every little edit is a great way to lose beta readers. Let it lie.

Whether you have a writing community like The Write Practice Pro or you just have friends and family read your work, you MUST open that door and let others in.

One Last Draft

You’ve lived through the torment of waiting on your beta readers. Congratulations! Now it’s time to take a look at all that feedback.

Your first instinct is going to be to get defensive and do a lot of groaning about how stupid your friends are and how they just “don’t get it.” Get that out of your system. Throw a toddler fit and jump up and down in frustration if you must.

Then reread their feedback.

I’m going to tell you something you probably don’t want to hear: Your beta readers are most likely right.

Remember you’re writing for people to read it. That means your readers have to like it. If they don’t, you’ve got a problem.

Reread their feedback with an open mind and apply it as needed. This is often a frustrating and disappointing time for writers, but try not to let it get you down. (Again, your writing does not suck!) You’re learning, and feedback will only make you better in the future.

Proofread Your Short Story

After you’ve implemented all the beta reader feedback, it really is down to the final stages. Your final draft needs to be as clean as possible. An editor considering your story for an anthology or magazine will let minor mistakes slide, but the story as a whole needs to be readable.

We’re not all grammar know-it-alls, and in truth, we don’t need to be. But you do need to work on the basics.

Now it’s time to get down to the nitpicky edits.

You’re going to look for things like misplaced commas , split infinitives , icky dialogue tags (i.e. too many words that aren’t “said”), -ly words, and -ing words .

I like to print my stories out at this stage so I can make editing notes and highlight until it looks like a sick and bleeding rainbow. I think it makes this tedious process more fun.

Run the story through Grammarly, Hemingway , and/or ProWritingAid . Don’t just change everything these programs tell you to, though. Think about what they want you to change and then decide if the suggestion is right for your story.

For example, Hemingway loves to point out sentences that are hard to read. Those sentences aren’t necessarily wrong, though. You have to decide if you want to simplify the wording or leave it as-is.

Read your story aloud. Read it backward. (My editor sister swears by this one.)

Reading aloud can help you pick out missed words, weird wording, and where commas (a.k.a. pauses) should go.

Reading it word-by-word backward is something I admit I don’t do, but my sister says it helps her take the words out of context. This stops her brain from playing tricks, so her brain won't fill in things that aren’t there while she’s reading.

Try it backward if you want to, but definitely read it aloud forward.

Note: If you are self-publishing and are really nervous about your grammar skills, you can hire a professional editor to proofread. But if you don't have the money to hire someone, Hemingway and Grammarly and maybe a style book are really all you need. (Or get a friend who's better at grammar to look at it.)

Finished! Now What?

And there you have it. You’ve written and edited a short story.

In future posts, I’ll continue to dive further into the craft of writing short stories, like tightening sentences and weaving in backstory, but for now, you’ve got the basics.

And really, that's all you need to move forward.

How do you edit your short story?   Let us know in the comments .

Take a short story or scene from a story that you’ve already written (and preferably have had sitting around for at least a couple of days) and edit it.

Start by reading through without taking notes. Then follow the other steps.

If you don’t have time to edit the entire thing today, take fifteen minutes to focus on big picture edits (the large concept and structural edits). I recommend that you look at the story structure, or how the six elements of plot apply to the content.

When you're done, share your writing practice in the box below. Don't forget to give feedback to a fellow writer!

Sarah Gribble

Sarah Gribble is the author of dozens of short stories that explore uncomfortable situations, basic fears, and the general awe and fascination of the unknown. She just released Surviving Death , her first novel, and is currently working on her next book.

Follow her on Instagram or join her email list for free scares.

Work with Sarah Gribble?

Bestselling author with over five years of coaching experience. Sarah Gribble specializes in working with Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Horror, Speculative Fiction, and Thriller books. Sound like a good fit for you?

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Submit Comment

Join over 450,000 readers who are saying YES to practice. You’ll also get a free copy of our eBook 14 Prompts :

Popular Resources

Best Resources for Writers Book Writing Tips & Guides Creativity & Inspiration Tips Writing Prompts Grammar & Vocab Resources Best Book Writing Software ProWritingAid Review Writing Teacher Resources Publisher Rocket Review Scrivener Review Gifts for Writers

Books By Our Writers

You've got it! Just us where to send your guide.

Enter your email to get our free 10-step guide to becoming a writer.

You've got it! Just us where to send your book.

Enter your first name and email to get our free book, 14 Prompts.

Want to Get Published?

Enter your email to get our free interactive checklist to writing and publishing a book.

11 Tips for Editing Your Own Writing – Checklist Included

| Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

Are you a student or a writer looking to finish some top-notch work but can’t afford to hire an editor? Even if you could, practicing self-editing techniques will help you become a better writer.

I use most of these techniques to help polish my own writing before sending it to my editor, which brings down the costs. Below are 11 tips for editing your writing to hone your craft and a cheat sheet you can download.

How Hard is it to Self Edit?

A lot of writers practice self-editing because it helps them master their craft. Avoiding passive voice or filler words are just two examples of writing editing techniques you can learn. The following checklist contains guidelines and examples that will show you how to self-edit your work.

The Importance of Self-Editing

Developing your language skills through the process of self-editing is beneficial. It is less likely that you will develop your writing skills to the highest possible level if you simply rely on other people to point out and correct your errors in writing.

You are laying the groundwork for future growth and development in yourself by cultivating the ability to edit and enhance your writing and focusing on consistently improving your writing talents.

When you are in a situation where you cannot rely on others for immediate assistance, self-editing can help you achieve success.

Take your grammar skills to the next level

Take Our Copyediting Course

Do You Still Need an Editor If You Self-Edit?

The answer is not straightforward and depends on various factors. Sometimes, you might still need an editor even if you self-edit. In fact, I highly recommend it, even if you have extensive editing skills. It’s just too easy to make careless errors and miss it with your own eye because you’ve written the piece and have likely read it over a dozen times already.

For writing meant to be published and made available in academic or legal contexts, for technical writing and pieces of text meant for selling, you should turn to a professional editor. For example, I would never publish a book without having an editor look it over first, no matter how confident I am in my self-editing skills.

How to Edit Your Own Creative Writing

These tips work well for me, so hopefully, you can utilize them with your own work.

Read Your Writing in a New Format

Convert your writing to a new format to gain clarity and a better overview of your work. If it was typed, you should print it out. Alternately, you may convert your Word document to PDF format, or you could alter the color, font, and size of your text. These strategies will give you a more critical eye and help you see your work as if an “outsider” read it.

Take a Break

Attempting to do everything at once is a common mistake amongst novice writers. Give your writing time to rest, whether a few hours or the whole night or even a few days. Creating a psychological divide between yourself and your work requires physical and symbolic separation. After some time away from it, you will be more likely to notice odd sentences and apparent errors in them.

Read It Out Loud

When you hear your writing aloud, you can catch things like clumsy wording, repetition, and other issues that detract from the flow and clarity of your work. A writer may not know their writing has poor sentence structure or that their main argument is unclear until they hear it read aloud.

Take advantage of text-to-speech software if it’s too much to read. There’s actually a free option built-in to Microsoft Word.

Remove Uncertain Language

A good writer masters their topic, leaving no room for uncertain phrases. If you want to communicate effectively, you should avoid using statements that sound indecisive. When you use terms like “seems to be” or “might be a reason for,” you come across as undecided, which makes your message appear less convincing to the listener.

Avoid Repetitive Phrases

This is a common problem with writers trying to meet the word count of those looking to make a point in their text. You should avoid repeatedly using the same words or phrases to make your argument since your audience will notice if you do this. Use a word frequency counter to identify repeated words, then look through a thesaurus for potential replacements.

Eliminate Filler Words

If your text is comprehensive while eliminating some of the words, those are known as “fillers.” A word processor can help with that, and it will help you find redundant words. Most of the time, words like “it” or “there” don’t belong in your writing.

Remove Weak “to Be” Verbs

New writers use variations of the verb “to be” quite often, thus weakening the following words (hence the concept of “weak verb”). For example, instead of saying, “They were not fans of the band,” you could say, “They disliked the band.”

Remove Weak Adjectives

Weak adjectives decrease your writing quality. “Very” and “really” are two perfect examples. Instead, you can use more powerful adjectives to replace them. You can use fewer words and still give your text an impact.

Use Grammarly to Find Mistakes

Grammarly is a must-have tool for both writers and editors, and I always sing its praises . The Grammarly proofreading tool checks for spelling errors, grammatical errors, punctuation errors, and more than 250 advanced rules to uncover the mistakes such as double negatives, passive voice, and hanging modifiers. 

After some practice with Grammarly, you’ll start to recognize patterns of error that crop up frequently in your writing. Bad writing habits like run-on sentences and inconsistencies are easy to fall back on during the writing process. 

Use the Chicago Manual of Style Online

The online version is available to writers at any time. Subscribing for a year may be worthwhile if writing is your profession. Priced at $41 at the moment, it’s an investment in your future as a writer because of its comprehensive guidance on writing mechanics.

Separate Your Editing Tasks

If the idea of editing your work fills you with dread, try breaking the process down into several phases that are more doable for you. During the initial pass, you should ensure that your ideas flow logically. When you go back through it, pay attention to sentence structure.

Writing Editing Checklist

Keep these points and editing tips on hand and refer to them when self-editing. It’s one I have next to me whenever I’m editing, and it’s helped me avoid some big mistakes and improve the flow of the story. I’ll include a handy bullet list below so you can download it. 

Spelling and Grammar

Software or a document editor with built-in spelling and grammar error detection is the best course of action. Using Grammarly, the Word spell checker or similar aids will underline your misspelled words and grammar mistakes and make correcting easier in any piece of writing. Make sure to check your punctuation too.

Unnecessary Words

Your sentences get cluttered with filler words that contribute no additional sense. As is the case with excessive use of passive voice, they lessen the impact of your work with weak sentences and make reading it more difficult for your audience.

There is something wrong with how you write your email if the recipient needs to finish it by consulting a thesaurus. You’re making it too difficult for them if they become bogged down in lengthy sentences and cannot take a breath in between them.

It’s time to condense that excessively complex and pompous locution into something more digestible. Stick to the basics.

That doesn’t imply you have to write dully, though. There is room for imaginative expression. There is room to act in a lighthearted manner. However, you shouldn’t make it solely about the “art” of writing. Not the place to say something like that in email marketing.

Your primary goal should be to assist your audience in realizing their full potential. The most effective method is communicating as clearly and straightforwardly as possible.

Fancy Words

Fancy words can make writing more beautiful, but using them doesn’t mean you wrote a good piece. They don’t belong in just any type of written content. When reviewing gardening tools, using words like “preposterous” is overkill.

Passive Voice

The subject of a sentence acts upon it in active voice writing. Verbs, the workhorses of any well-formed sentence, denote this action. Although the use of passive voice is not strictly forbidden, it is recommended that you maintain an active tone in your writing to encourage your readers to continue reading.

If you want to ditch passive voice, keep in mind one popular detective-movie question: who dunnit? Who manufactured the product? Who left the door open? Who edited the manuscript?

It is easy for editors to spot passive voice, but it can be challenging for writers to see it in their work. Your writing will be more effective once you have mastered the skills necessary to recognize and correct these occurrences.

Repeated Words

Repeating words over and over again showcases one thing: you need a better command of English vocabulary. A thesaurus is integral to making the text sound good to the reader. Synonyms are essential in this situation.

I’m guilty of this. My editor used to do an entire pass-through just for my repeated words and fire the manuscript back to me before she continued editing. Now I do a search-and-replace in Word for my ‘vices’ before sending it out. 

Long Sentences

Any lengthy phrases can be written using suitable grammar. However, because lengthy sentences frequently include several concepts, it is simple for the reader to become distracted by them. If you end up with long comma sentences, try to give each idea a sentence of its own.

Phrases You Can Replace in One or Two Words

Using too many words or phrases to create a simple idea is called circumlocution. In your writing, you should never resort to using circumlocutions if at all possible. The only instance you can break this rule is if you believe that your audience is incapable of dealing with a confrontation with the matter at issue and that you need to sugar coat it with a euphemism.

Here’s how to avoid it:

• Before beginning a conversation, give yourself some time to reflect.
• Before you say something or after you’ve said something, think of ways to rephrase it with more straightforward language.
• Studying new vocabulary and phrasing can enable you to express yourself more clearly and concisely.

Sentences and Paragraphs Starting the Same Way

Anaphora is a writing technique that repeats a term in consecutive verses, sentences, or phrases to get a poetic effect. Google doesn’t like that. You should avoid this, especially if you are a web content writer.

A paragraph that begins with numerous successive sentences with the same word will not be a pleasant reading experience. Visitors to your website would become frustrated and click away.

Therefore, even though three identical sentence beginnings might not appear relevant to you in terms of SEO, it’s essential to remember that the essence of an all-encompassing SEO strategy is providing your readers with the most awesome content possible.

Sentence Structure Variety

Your writing may appear to be one extensive list if it has an excessive number of short sentences while becoming confusing if it contains a disproportionate number of long sentences. It is challenging to establish a balance while also varying the sentence forms you use, but the work is well worth it.

Always look for a pattern of successive sentences that begin in the same manner; this can have the unintentional consequence of making you sound like you are going on and on.

Consistent Verb Tense

Decide whether you should write in the past or the present tense for your piece, as well as the perspective from which you will be telling it. Many of your readers will become confused if you flip between tenses and points of view in a way that is not intentional.

Of course, some narratives are intentionally written from different timeframes or points of view. If this is the case with your story, you must be sure you use the appropriate one at the right time.

Consistent Tone

Ensure that your paper’s first sentence sets the mood you desire. The tones you select will change depending on the topic at hand. However, refrain from switching tones in the middle of a composition. Read your text carefully when you finish. Look for tone shifts and fades and correct them.

“Very” and “Really”

These two words will make your writing look weaker with wishy-washy sentences. When you overuse “very” and “really,” the writing becomes dull, impersonal, and filled with unnecessary words.

To avoid using very + adjective, consider a single-word replacement. For instance, turn “very cold” into “freezing.”

“Really” is an adverb that can modify not just adjectives but also verbs. It can also modify adverbs. Therefore, when it is used as an intensifier for an activity, you should alternate using it with a different word, such as truly, strongly, or greatly, while speaking about the action.

A phrase that was once original but has been so overused that its original meaning has been lost is an example of a cliché.

Give some thought to the deeper meaning of the cliché. Use a dictionary to find words or phrases similar to the one you want to replace but not the same. Clichés are mostly unneeded filler in writing; you can eliminate them from your text.

Parallelism

When it comes to good grammar, it’s less about coming together and more about striking a balance. The concept of parallelism in grammar refers to two or more phrases or clauses within a sentence that share the same structure as the rest of the sentence’s grammar.

Your writing has the potential to become more powerful, fascinating, and understandable by utilizing parallelism.

Connecting ideas that are related to one another and highlighting the connections between them is helpful. When a grammatical pattern has been established, the reader does not need to exert as much effort to comprehend your meaning and the concepts you are attempting to convey.

You are aware that some believe that using jargon will make their work appear more intelligent, but you know otherwise. Good writing should not leave the reader feeling confused because of awkward phrases. If a reader needs to use a dictionary to complete a phrase, there is space for growth in the writing you provide.

To ensure that your idea is understood, it is important to utilize language familiar to the audience. There are thousands upon thousands of words in the English language. A jargon-filled expression can almost always be replaced with something simpler and more widely used if you look it up in a thesaurus.

One way to utilize language that “protects” your statements is through the practice of hedging. Your arguments have a better chance of being taken seriously if you use language that displays an appropriate amount of caution. It also illustrates the level of certainty you have with the evidence stated.

To make your text look nice, you must edit your formatting. This includes consistent fonts and sizes for headings, subheadings, and paragraphs. Make sure you use identical bullet points across the entire piece. Consider industry-standard typographical conventions throughout your document (including bold and italic text).

Final Thoughts

There are a lot of good writers with potential out there who can’t avoid writing in passive voice or tell the difference between “its” and “it’s.” Editors that spot these mistakes are less likely to want to work with them.

The editing process is essential on many levels, but it takes a long time to master. Luckily, our checklist will guide you through the process and remind you what to look for when finishing a written piece. Also see our post on the best books for proofreading .

Grammarist is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.

2024 © Grammarist, a Found First Marketing company. All rights reserved.

The Art of Editing: A Guide for Writers

Last updated on December 28th, 2022

Editing is an essential part of the writing process and can make all the difference between a good piece of writing and a great one. In this article, we’ll explore the art of self-editing and provide tips for writers on how to get the most out of the editing process.

From understanding the basics of the editing process to mastering the fundamentals of effective editing, we’ll cover the key elements you need to know to ensure your writing is polished and ready for publication.

The Importance of Self-Editing

Solid editing is the key to excellent writing, and editing your own writing is an essential part of the process. It is important for writers to take the time to read through and edit their work before submitting it for publication.

Editing your work can improve the quality of writing and make it more readable, helping it to stand out from the competition. It can help identify and correct any grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that may have been overlooked. It can also help make a piece of writing more concise and clear by removing unnecessary words or phrases and identifying any areas of confusion or ambiguity. This helps ensure readers understand the intended message and makes a piece more enjoyable and engaging.

By taking the time to re-read your work, you make sure that your writing is polished and professional and meets the target audience’s standards. 

What is Good Editing?

Generally, the process involves multiple steps with the goal of making your writing compelling, readable, engaging, and professional. Here’s an overview of the types of tasks involved:

• Audit the content for organization and flow. This process includes checking for a logical sequence of ideas, transitions between paragraphs, and the piece’s overall structure.
• Review the content for style and tone, including considering the audience and determining if the writing is appropriate for them. It also involves making sure there is consistency throughout the piece and that the style is suitable for the subject matter.
• Check the content for accuracy by verifying facts, checking sources, and double-checking any quotes.
• Fix any grammar and spelling mistakes.
• Review the content for readability. This involves making sure the content is easy to read, the sentences are not too long, the words are not overly complicated, and overall engaging for the reader.

How Often Should You Edit?

When it comes to editing, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The amount of editing required depends on the individual writer and the type of project they are working on. Here are some general guidelines to follow when considering how often you should edit:

• Always edit after completing the first draft. Even if you’ve done a reasonably thorough job of self-editing, giving your work another pass before submitting it for review is important.
• For shorter pieces, such as blog posts, aim to edit the work at least twice before publishing. This will help you catch any errors or typos that may have slipped through the cracks.
• If you’re working on a more extended project, such as a book, it’s important to edit more frequently. It’s best to break your editing down into several passes and take a break between them to give yourself a fresh set of eyes.
• If you need help determining when to edit, try setting deadlines for yourself and breaking the project down into smaller chunks. This will help you stay on track and work more thoroughly.

Ultimately, the key to successful editing is to make sure you’re taking the time to review your work with a critical eye. The more time and effort you put into the process, the better your final product will be.

Are Editing and Proofreading the Same?

Editing and proofreading are two different steps in creating polished, publishable writing. 

Editing is the process of assessing, correcting, and refining the writing content. This could involve reorganizing or rewriting sections or even completely changing the piece’s focus.

Proofreading, on the other hand, is a much more precise process. Once the editing is complete, proofreading involves reading the text to detect grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors.

While both involve making corrections, they are two distinct processes. It is essential to understand them both to create high-quality and professional writing.

Editing & Proofreading Tips for Writers

Here’s our checklist of the top editing tips for writers to help you get the most out of your work: 

Don’t Try to Edit While You Write

First of all, editing and writing are two very different things. Writing is the creative process of getting your ideas down on paper. Editing is the process of refining and perfecting the written piece. Trying to do both simultaneously can be a recipe for disaster. When writing, focus on getting your ideas down without worrying about grammar, punctuation, or spelling. Save the editing for later! 

Start Zoomed Out

Begin by focusing on the big picture first. Avoid the temptation to correct minor mistakes immediately, which can lead to overlooking more significant issues and creating more work for yourself in the long run. For example, you may unnecessarily spend time fixing spelling or grammar on sections that you ultimately rework or remove entirely.

On your first pass, look for high-level issues like plot holes and inconsistencies, pacing issues, scenes that need to be developed further, or character arcs and resolutions. Think of it like an ice cream cone: begin with broad structural changes and then narrow to more specific edits.

One way to get a higher-level perspective of your work is using the following tip:

Read Your Work Out Loud

Reading your written work aloud to yourself is a great way to identify errors and awkward phrasing. When you read something out loud, you are forced to slow down and really listen to what you are saying. This allows you to pick up on words that don’t sound quite right, sentences that don’t make sense, or typos that you might have missed.

Additionally, reading aloud can help you get a sense of the rhythm and flow of your writing, allowing you to make adjustments, so your writing is more engaging and effective.

Talking aloud instead of mumbling to yourself or thinking quietly in your head can be beneficial. To make it even more helpful, try talking to someone else; your pet, a significant other, a buddy, or members of a writing group. However, it may be best not to read to other customers in the café or to a captive audience of other people on public transportation!

Get Feedback from Others

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Having a friend, colleague or mentor read your work with a critical eye can provide you with valuable feedback that you may not have noticed yourself. Please encourage them to be honest and make suggestions for improvement. Be grateful and open and take all feedback constructively. Think of it as an opportunity to learn and grow as a writer. And don’t forget to say thanks by returning the favor somehow! 

Shifting from Passive to Active Voice

Active voice is a writing style in which the subject of the sentence performs the action. For example, instead of writing “the ball was thrown by the boy,” you would write “the boy threw the ball.” When editing, check for any sentences written in passive voice and to rewrite them in active voice. 

Active voice is generally preferred because it gives the reader a more precise and direct understanding of the sentence. It is more concise and is often perceived as more natural and engaging, which can help make writing more exciting for readers. Active voice also tends to be easier to read and understand, making it more enjoyable for the reader.

Cut Out Unnecessary Words and Phrases

Focus on getting your point across with less. Every word should have a purpose, and if a sentence doesn’t contribute to the overall point of the paragraph, prune it. Even if a sentence is well-crafted, it should be removed if it doesn’t have a purpose.

Be ruthless when editing, and don’t be afraid to make bold cuts. Deleting your writing is one of the most challenging things to do as a writer, but it is essential to great writing. 

It’s also important to vary the length of your sentences. Too many short sentences can make writing seem choppy and disjointed. Conversely, too many long sentences can make writing seem overly complex and convoluted. Varying sentence length adds flow and interest to your writing, making it easier to read. Pay attention to the structure of each sentence and make sure the point is easy to understand. 

Reduce Adverbs

Adverbs can weaken your writing by making it overly wordy and indirect. They often require extra words to express the same concept, making your writing sound clunky and awkward. Additionally, many adverbs are vague and don’t give the reader an exact image of what you’re trying to convey. Writing without adverbs can improve your writing to be more precise and clear.

Show & Tell

Showing involves using sensory details, metaphors, vivid language, and other literary devices to create a clear image, while Telling is a straightforward, factual account of what happened. Showing is often preferred to telling because it engages the reader and invites them to form their own interpretations. It also helps to create a more natural and immersive experience for the reader, allowing them to “see” the story unfold in their mind’s eye.

Sometimes you’ll have to recount what happened to the reader for context or framing, but try to show them instead, so they get there on their own, which is more interesting and dynamic.

Check for Grammar and Spelling Errors

Making sure your post is free of grammar and spelling errors will help you ensure that you are putting your best foot forward. Taking the time will give your readers a better experience and help you make a more professional impression. One option to make this process more efficient is to use an online tool such as Grammarly to help you identify areas that need improvement.

A reminder about spellcheckers: they may flag typos and incorrect spelling, but they generally won’t detect when you’ve used the wrong word. For example, if you wrote “there” instead of “their,” the spellcheck won’t pick up on it because “there” is still a word, even though it wasn’t what you meant to write.

Use a Style Guide

A style guide is a set of rules and guidelines for a particular type of writing, such as fiction, journalism, or technical writing. Following the guidelines of your chosen style guide will help ensure consistency throughout your work.

Having a style guide can help make the writing process simpler and more efficient. They can provide helpful information on formatting, grammar, and punctuation. For example, if you are writing a novel, the guide might provide guidance on the correct way to format dialogue, how to punctuate dialogue tags, and how to structure chapters.

Get Professional Assistance

A professional editor can be an excellent resource for ensuring your work is polished and ready to go. Whether you’re writing a book, a blog post, or a business proposal, an editor can help you fine-tune your writing and make sure it is as close to perfect as possible.

Professional editors can also help with proofreading, content editing, and even rewriting sections that need extra attention. With their help, you can be sure that your work is top-notch and will impact the people you are trying to reach.

Bonus: Take Breaks

Editing can be an exhausting process, so don’t be afraid to take breaks. Step away from your work and come back with fresh eyes. This will help you notice mistakes you might have missed during a long editing session. Taking short breaks throughout your process can also help maintain your focus and enthusiasm.

Finally, take your time and be patient. Editing is a skill and a process that requires practice and dedication and is an essential part of writing. It can be a daunting task, but following the tips in this guide can make your work shine. By taking the time to edit your work, you will be able to produce a final product that you can be proud of. You can become an efficient editor and a more confident writer with practice and patience.

Daniel Wainwright

Daniel is a writer with over 10 years of experience crafting compelling content for brands both big and small. When he’s not busy writing, Daniel can be found spending time with his wife and young son, and digging through the stacks in in bookstores and thrift shops.

Related Posts

7 Biggest Mistakes Copywriters Make

How to Write an Effective Expository Essay

10 Essential Writing Tips for Aspiring Authors

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

How to Edit Your Own Writing

Writing is hard, but don’t overlook the difficulty — and the importance — of editing your own work before letting others see it. Here’s how.

By Harry Guinness

The secret to good writing is good editing. It’s what separates hastily written, randomly punctuated, incoherent rants from learned polemics and op-eds, and cringe-worthy fan fiction from a critically acclaimed novel. By the time this article is done, I’ll have edited and rewritten each line at least a few times. Here’s how to start editing your own work.

Understand that what you write first is a draft

It doesn’t matter how good you think you are as a writer — the first words you put on the page are a first draft. Writing is thinking: It’s rare that you’ll know exactly what you’re going to say before you say it. At the end, you need, at the very least, to go back through the draft, tidy everything up and make sure the introduction you wrote at the start matches what you eventually said.

My former writing teacher, the essayist and cartoonist Timothy Kreider, explained revision to me: “One of my favorite phrases is l’esprit d’escalier, ‘the spirit of the staircase’ — meaning that experience of realizing, too late, what the perfect thing to have said at the party, in a conversation or argument or flirtation would have been. Writing offers us one of the rare chances in life at a do-over: to get it right and say what we meant this time. To the extent writers are able to appear any smarter or wittier than readers, it’s only because they’ve cheated by taking so much time to think up what they meant to say and refining it over days or weeks or, yes, even years, until they’ve said it as clearly and elegantly as they can.”

The time you put into editing, reworking and refining turns your first draft into a second — and then into a third and, if you keep at it, eventually something great. The biggest mistake you can make as a writer is to assume that what you wrote the first time through was good enough.

Now, let’s look at how to do the actual editing.

Watch for common errors

Most writing mistakes are depressingly common; good writers just get better at catching them before they hit the page. If you’re serious about improving your writing, I recommend you read “The Elements of Style” by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, a how-to guide on writing good, clear English and avoiding the most common mistakes. “ Politics and the English Language ” by George Orwell is also worth studying if you want to avoid “ugly and inaccurate” writing.

Some of the things you’ll learn to watch for (and that I have to fix all the time in my own writing) are:

Overuse of jargon and business speak . Horrible jargon like “utilize,” “endeavor” or “communicate” — instead of “use,” “try” or “chat” — creep in when people (myself included) are trying to sound smart. It’s the kind of writing that Orwell railed against in his essay. All this sort of writing does is obscure the point you want to make behind false intellectualism. As Orwell said, “Never use a long word when a short one will do.”

Clichés. Clichés are as common as mud but at least getting rid of them is low-hanging fruit. If you’re not sure whether something is a cliché, it’s better to just avoid it. Awful, right? Clichés are stale phrases that have lost their impact and novelty through overuse. At some point, “The grass is always greener on the other side” was a witty observation, but it’s a cliché now. Again, Orwell said it well: “Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.” Oh, and memes very quickly become clichés — be warned.

The passive voice. In most cases, the subject of the sentence should be the person or thing taking action, not the thing being acted on. For example, “This article was written by Harry” is written in the passive voice because the subject (“this article”) is the thing being acted on. The equivalent active construction would be: “Harry wrote this article.” Prose written in the passive voice tends to have an aloofness and passivity to it, which is why it’s generally better to write an active sentence.

Rambling . When you’re not quite sure what you want to say, it’s easy to ramble around a point, phrasing it in three or four different ways and then, instead of cutting them down to a single concise sentence, slapping all four together into a clunky, unclear paragraph. A single direct sentence is almost always better than four that tease around a point.

Give your work some space

When you write something, you get very close to it. It’s almost impossible to have the distance to edit properly straight away. Instead, you need to step away and come back later with fresh eyes. The longer you can leave a draft before editing it, the better. I have some essays I go back to every few months for another pass — they’re still not done yet. For most things, though, somewhere from half an hour to two days is enough of a break that you can then edit well. Even 10 minutes will do in a pinch for things like emails.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

Learning Objectives

By the time you complete this section, you will be able to:

• Distinguish between proofreading and editing

Editing and Proofreading

What do you know about proofreading and editing? Take this quiz to identify what type of editor you currently are. Then, continue on to learn more about editing and proofreading.

When you think of editing, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Many people view the main task of editing as finding and fixing grammar or spelling mistakes. However, editing is much more. Editing is a process that involves revising the content, organization, grammar, and presentation of a piece of writing. The purpose of editing is to ensure that your ideas are presented to your reader as clearly as possible. Proofreading focuses on checking for accuracy in smaller details of your work. It is a part of the overall editing process, and is best done as the final stage of editing. In the next section of the workshop, you will discover how to implement an editing process that moves from big picture concerns through to the final step of proofreading.

Reflection Questions

• What do you do now to  edit   your writing?
• What do you do now to  proofread   your writing?

Effective Editing Copyright © 2019 by Christina Page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

Constant Content Blog

11 tips for editing your own writing (plus a checklist).

Posted October 11, 2017 by Isaac Justesen in Freelance Writers

Good editing can transform a mediocre piece of content into something great. It’s one of the most important aspects of the writing process, but a surprising number of writers underestimate its value.

The Importance of Self-Editing

Becoming a good editor of your own work takes time and practice, but it’s worth it. You’ll learn how to improve the structure and style of your writing, communicate more clearly and eliminate grammatical errors .

Companies want copy that reflects well on their business, provides value to their readers and drives sales, so well-edited content will also look more attractive to content buyers.

Are you ready to become a better editor? You may not have access to a professional editor, but you can use the following tips to help you edit your own writing more effectively.

1. Read Your Writing in a New Format

If you typed it, print it out. Alternatively, convert your Word document to PDF format, or change your text to a different font, color, and size. These techniques will help you see your content from an “outsider’s” perspective and give you a more critical eye.

2. Take a Break

Let your writing rest for a few hours or overnight. Putting a literal distance between you and your work also creates an emotional distance. When you return to it, you’re more likely to spot awkward phrases and obvious mistakes.

3. Read it Out Loud

To discover the rhythm of your writing, read it out loud. The best writing sounds smooth, so if you find yourself stammering through poorly worded sentences, you know it needs improving.

4. Remove Uncertain Language

Good communication sounds authoritative, so avoid wishy-washy sentences. If you use phrases like “seems to be” or “could be a reason for,” you sound indecisive and it weakens your message.

5. Avoid Repetitive Phrases

Try not to rely on certain words or phrases to make your point; readers will notice when you repeat yourself. Aim for variety. Use a word frequency counter to find repetitive words and scan a thesaurus to find alternatives.

6. Eliminate Filler Words

Use your word processor’s find functionality to search for “there,” “here,” and “it” to find redundant words and phrases. For example:

It’s fun to edit your own writing.

The sentence formation weakens the writing with unnecessary words that lack focus. This is more effective:

Editing your own writing is fun.

7. Remove Weak “To Be” Verbs

Using versions of the verb “to be” can weaken the words that follow. Replace “am,” “is,” “are,” “was,” “were,” “been,” and “being” with stronger alternatives. For example:

Weak sentence: They were not enjoying the editing process.

Strong sentence: They hated the editing process.

Stronger sentence: The editing process repulsed them.

8. Remove Weak Adjectives

Weak adjectives also spoil your writing. When describing nouns and pronouns, use more powerful adjectives and avoid the words “really” or “very.”

Weak sentence: He was really scared of snakes.

Strong sentence: He was terrified of snakes.

Stronger sentence: Snakes terrified him.

9. Use Grammarly to Find Mistakes

The Grammarly proofreading tool looks at spelling and grammar mistakes and checks more than 250 advanced rules to find mistakes such as double negatives, run-on sentences, and dangling modifiers. After you’ve used Grammarly a few times, you’ll start to see common weaknesses in your writing.

10. Subscribe to The Chicago Manual of Style Online

The well-known writing guide to style, usage, and grammar is now accessible online. If you write for a living, consider paying for an annual subscription. It’s currently $39, but with advice covering every aspect of the mechanics of writing, you’re investing in your future as a writer .

11. Separate Your Editing Tasks

If the thought of editing your own work terrifies you, break down the tasks into a series of manageable steps. In the first read-through, check your ideas flow logically. In the next read-through, look at sentence structure, and so on.

Related: 25 Tips for Editing Your First Draft

An editing checklist will help you clean up your writing and spot common mistakes. Here’s an example of a basic checklist to get you started:

The big-picture edit:

• Do you have a strong introduction that hooks the reader?
• Does the content flow logically?
• Does the ending sum up your main points and include a call to action?

The second edit:

• Are there any sections where you repeat your ideas?
• Does each paragraph contain just one topic?
• Are big chunks of text broken up with subheadings and paragraph breaks?
• Do you use data, statistics, and quotations to back up our points?

The third edit:

• Do sentences vary in length?
• Is all spelling and punctuation correct?
• Can you replace weak verbs and adjectives with stronger ones?
• Do you use the passive voice?

Your editing checklist should be tailored to your strengths and weaknesses, and you can adapt it over time to your particular needs as a writer.

Become a Better Editor

Self-editing is a key part of the writing process. It can transform average content into great content that people love to read. As you become more aware of your writing strengths and weaknesses, your editing skills will also improve.

Use these editing tips for your next writing project. Your content will be more enjoyable to read, have more impact on readers, and you’ll increase your marketability as a writer.

Related Posts

6 essential tips for aspiring ghostwriters, erin macdonald : success story of a constant content writer, seo and artificial intelligence-generated content : google’s position is shifting, what does chatgpt mean for writers and content marketers.

• freelance writing

Earning A Master’s In Creative Writing: What To Know

Updated: Nov 1, 2023, 1:51pm

Do you want to create written work that ignites a reader’s imagination and even changes their worldview? With a master’s in creative writing, you can develop strong storytelling and character development skills, equipping you to achieve your writing goals.

If you’re ready to strengthen your writing chops and you enjoy writing original works to inspire others, tell interesting stories and share valuable information, earning a master’s in creative writing may be the next step on your career journey.

The skills learned in a creative writing master’s program qualify you to write your own literary works, teach others creative writing principles or pursue various other careers.

This article explores master’s degrees in creative writing, including common courses and concentrations, admission requirements and careers that use creative writing skills. Read on to learn more about earning a master’s degree in creative writing.

Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Education

Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths. Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics , education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. Advertisers do not influence our rankings or editorial content.

• 6,290 accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities analyzed nationwide
• 52 reputable tech bootcamp providers evaluated for our rankings
• All content is fact-checked and updated on an annual basis
• Rankings undergo five rounds of fact-checking
• Only 7.12% of all colleges, universities and bootcamp providers we consider are awarded

What Is a Master’s in Creative Writing?

A master’s in creative writing is an advanced degree that helps you develop the skills to write your own novel, poetry, screenplay or nonfiction book. This degree can also prepare you for a career in business, publishing, education, marketing or communications.

In a creative writing master’s degree program, you can expect to analyze literature, explore historical contexts of literary works, master techniques for revising and editing, engage in class workshops and peer critiques, and write your own original work.

Creative writing master’s programs usually require a thesis project, which should be well-written, polished and ready to publish. Typical examples of thesis projects include poetry collections, memoirs, essay collections, short story collections and novels.

A master’s in creative writing typically requires about 36 credits and takes two years to complete. Credit requirements and timelines vary by program, so you may be able to finish your degree quicker.

Specializations for a Master’s in Creative Writing

Below are a few common concentrations for creative writing master’s programs. These vary by school, so your program’s offerings may look different.

This concentration helps you develop fiction writing skills, such as plot development, character creation and world-building. A fiction concentration is a good option if you plan to write short stories, novels or other types of fiction.

A nonfiction concentration focuses on the mechanics of writing nonfiction narratives. If you plan to write memoirs, travel pieces, magazine articles, technical documents or nonfiction books, this concentration may suit you.

Explore the imagery, tone, rhythm and structure of poetry with a poetry concentration. With this concentration, you can expect to develop your poetry writing skills and learn to curate poetry for journals and magazines.

Screenwriting

Screenwriting is an excellent concentration to explore if you enjoy creating characters and telling stories to make them come alive for television or film. This specialization covers how to write shorts, episodic serials, documentaries and feature-length film scripts.

Admission Requirements for a Master’s in Creative Writing

Below are some typical admission requirements for master’s in creative writing degree programs. These requirements vary, so check with your program to ensure you’ve met the appropriate requirements.

• Application for admission
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Transcripts from previous education
• Writing samples
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement or essay

Common Courses in a Master’s in Creative Writing

Story and concept.

This course focuses on conceptualizing, planning and developing stories on a structural level. Learners study how to generate ideas, develop interesting plots, create outlines, draft plot arcs, engage in world-building and create well-rounded characters who move their stories forward.

Graduate Studies in English Literature

Understanding literature is essential to building a career in creative writing. This course prepares you to teach, study literature or write professionally. Expect to discuss topics such as phonology, semantics, dialects, syntax and the history of the English language.

Workshop in Creative Nonfiction

You’ll study classic and contemporary creative nonfiction in this course. Workshops in creative nonfiction explore how different genres have emerged throughout history and how previous works influence new works. In some programs, this course focuses on a specific theme.

Foundations in Fiction

In this course, you’ll explore how the novel has developed throughout literary history and how the short story emerged as an art form. Coursework includes reading classic and contemporary works, writing response essays and crafting critical analyses.

MA in Creative Writing vs. MFA in Creative Writing: What’s the Difference?

While the degrees are similar, a master of arts in creative writing is different from a master of fine arts in creative writing. An MA in creative writing teaches creative writing competencies, building analytical skills through studying literature, literary theory and related topics. This lets you explore storytelling along with a more profound knowledge of literature and literary theory.

If you want your education to take a more academic perspective so you can build a career in one of many fields related to writing, an MA in creative writing may be right for you.

An MFA prepares you to work as a professional writer or novelist. MFA students graduate with a completed manuscript that is ready for publishing. Coursework highlights subjects related to the business of writing, such as digital publishing, the importance of building a platform on social media , marketing, freelancing and teaching. An MA in creative writing also takes less time and requires fewer credits than an MFA.

If you want to understand the business of writing and work as a professional author or novelist, earning an MFA in creative writing might be your best option.

What Can You Do With a Master’s in Creative Writing?

Below are several careers you can pursue with a master’s in creative writing. We sourced salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Postsecondary Creative Writing Teacher

Median Annual Salary: $74,280 Minimum Required Education: Ph.D. or another doctoral degree; master’s degree may be accepted at some schools and community colleges Job Overview: Postsecondary teachers, also known as professors or faculty, teach students at the college level. They plan lessons, advise students, serve on committees, conduct research, publish original research, supervise graduate teaching assistants, apply for grants for their research and teach subjects in their areas of expertise.

Median Annual Salary: $73,080 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in English or a related field Job Overview: Editors plan, revise and edit written materials for publication. They work for newspapers, magazines, book publishers, advertising agencies, media networks, and motion picture and video production companies. Editors work closely with writers to ensure their written work is accurate, grammatically correct and written in the appropriate style for the medium.

Median Annual Salary: $55,960 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field Job Overview: Journalists research and write stories about local, regional, national and global current events and other newsworthy subjects. Journalists need strong interviewing, editing, analytical and writing skills. Some journalists specialize in a subject, such as sports or politics, and some are generalists. They work for news organizations, magazines and online publications, and some work as freelancers.

Writer or Author

Median Annual Salary: $73,150 Minimum Required Education: None; bachelor’s degree in creative writing or a related field sometimes preferred Job Overview: Writers and authors write fiction or nonfiction content for magazines, plays, blogs, books, television scripts and other forms of media. Novelists, biographers, copywriters, screenwriters and playwrights all fall into this job classification. Writers may work for advertising agencies, news platforms, book publishers and other organizations; some work as freelancers.

Technical Writer

Median Annual Salary: $79,960 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree Job Overview: Technical writers craft technical documents, such as training manuals and how-to guides. They are adept at simplifying technical information so lay people can easily understand it. Technical writers may work with technical staff, graphic designers, computer support specialists and software developers to create user-friendly finished pieces.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About a Master's in Creative Writing

Is a master’s in creative writing useful.

If your goal is to launch a career as a writer, then yes, a master’s in creative writing is useful. An MA in creative writing is a versatile degree that prepares you for various jobs requiring excellent writing skills.

Is an MFA better than an MA for creative writing?

One is not better than the other; you should choose the one that best equips you for the career you want. An MFA prepares you to build a career as a professional writer or novelist. An MA prepares you for various jobs demanding high-level writing skills.

What kind of jobs can you get with a creative writing degree?

A creative writing degree prepares you for many types of writing jobs. It helps you build your skills and gain expertise to work as an editor, writer, author, technical writer or journalist. This degree is also essential if you plan to teach writing classes at the college level.

• How To Become A Journalist
• How To Become A News Anchor
• What Can You Do With A History Degree?
• What Can You Do With A Journalism Degree?
• Writing Careers: 6 Jobs To Check Out
• Where Can You Complete An Online Art Therapy Master's Program In 2024?
• Where Can You Earn An Online Art History Master's Degree?
• Best Online Creative Writing Degree Programs
• Best Online English Degrees
• Best Master's In English Online Programs
• Best Journalism Schools Online
• Best Master's In Math Education Online
• Best Online Master’s In History Degree
• Best Online Master’s In Interior Design
• Best Online Master’s In Journalism Programs
• Fashion Merchandising Degrees
• Earning A Creative Writing Degree
• Earning An English Bachelor’s Degree
• Earning A Bachelor’s Degree In History
• Bachelor’s Degrees In Journalism
• Earning A Bachelor’s Degree In Music
• 9 Types Of Music Degrees, Plus Concentration Options

Where Can You Complete An Online Art Therapy Master’s Program In 2024?

Where To Earn An Online Photography Degree In 2024

Best Master’s In Math Education Online Of 2024

Best Online Master’s In Music Education Of 2024

Best Online Master’s In History Degrees Of 2024

Best Online Master’s In Journalism Programs Of 2024

Sheryl Grey is a freelance writer who specializes in creating content related to education, aging and senior living, and real estate. She is also a copywriter who helps businesses grow through expert website copywriting, branding and content creation. Sheryl holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Indiana University South Bend, and she received her teacher certification training through Bethel University’s Transition to Teaching program.

5 Steps for Editing Your Own Writing

Like most newspaper reporters, I got into the biz because a)  I love writing and b) I’m pretty good at it. But it’s a sobering profession. You file your masterpiece, only to find your editor thinks it’s two dozen “tinks” shy of publishable. (No lie: One editor refers to the process as “killing your babies.”)

Repeat this scenario a couple hundred times, and you’ll find you’ve grown some thick skin. You’ve also gotten pretty darn good at self-editing, so as to avoid the aforementioned scenario as much as possible.

So, I’m here to impart some wisdom on the art of quickly perfecting your own work—how to hone, trim, and morph clumsy words and phrases into a clear, concise message that will wow your audience. It could be a company memo, a PowerPoint presentation, an email, or a report—but no matter the medium, these quick editing skills will always come in handy.

Some other bonuses of good self-editing skills: People are less likely to misunderstand you, and bosses and peers will pay more attention to the meat of your message.

So here we go. Let’s say you’re working on a personal assessment for your annual performance review . You've written the first draft, but you want to make sure it’s in perfect condition before you submit it. Here’s your game plan:

1.   Print Out Your Work

Always do this.  Always . It’s a pain, but when you’re talking performance reviews, that 20-yard hassle of a walk to the printer could mean the difference between a 4% or a 5% raise.

Here's why: As any writer or editor will tell you, critiquing someone else's work is much easier than deconstructing your own, because outside eyes bring a fresh perspective. To approach your own work critically, you need to simulate this "outsider" perspective by viewing it in a form other than the one you wrote it in.

If you typed it, print it out. Give it a quick read-through, then wield your red pen and start slashing. (Ruthlessly. More on that below.) If you hand-wrote the first draft of your evaluation, type it up, print it, and analyze. That’s right—either way, you should still be heading over to the printer.

2.  Take a Break

If you’re on deadline and this step is a luxury, proceed to No. 3. But if you do have a few minutes to spare, putting a literal distance between you and your work creates an emotional distance as well. When you come back to it with fresh eyes, you're more likely to spot awkward wording, unnecessary phrasing, and plain ol’ mistakes. So take a stroll, go to the bathroom, chat with a co-worker. If you can let it simmer overnight, that’s best of all. Then you can be more ruthless with your edits.

3. Read it Out Loud

The best writing sounds smooth —almost like you’re speaking, without getting colloquial. So actually listening to your written syntax is one of the best ways you can catch areas with jangling phrasing. Read your work out loud and change anything that doesn’t make sense or that you stumble over. And don't be afraid to use contractions—that's how us non-robots talk, isn't it? (Imagine that last sentence without contractions. Now you see what I mean.)

4. Pretend You’re the Intended Audience

Now that you've read and re-read your document, it's time for some editing role play. Keeping with the performance review example, read the document again, this time as if you're the boss lady . Is it so verbose that you're getting bored by page two? Or does it flow easily and leave you with a "Wow, she deserves a raise!" impression? What stands out to you most? Jot down your thoughts, make changes, and move on to the last step.

5.  Be Ruthless

The final step is to edit your work down. Yes, chop some of those words, sentences, and paragraphs. Like crazy. I know, I know—killing babies. But this will help make sure that the true meat of your piece is what shines.

If you need a little help with this, here are some tips:

Keep Paragraphs Short

Three to four sentences is more than enough to get to the point quickly and succinctly.

Reduce Each Sentence to its Essential Parts

A well-defined subject, strong verb, and object.

Avoid the Overuse of Subordinate Clauses

Quick little grammar refresher: A subordinate clause (also known as a dependent clause) has a subject and verb but can't stand alone as a sentence. So let's take this sentence that might appear in your personal assessment:

"When staff fatigue was high during the fourth quarter because of lower earnings than projected, I led an initiative to improve morale."

Let's rework it a bit, make it more straightforward.

"I led an initiative to tackle staff fatigue and improve morale in the wake of disappointing fourth-quarter earnings."

Nix Adverbs and Adjectives as Often as Possible

On your printout, mark through every adjective and adverb you see, and then add back the ones that you think are absolutely necessary. When in doubt, find a verb that says it better.

Infuse Opinionated Language With Authority

During my freshman year of college, I got a B on a kick-ass paper. Upset, I asked my professor to explain his (obviously flawed) grading system. He said I was downgraded because I repeatedly used phrases like "seems to be" and "it appears." When you make a point, he said, throw yourself behind it. Don't give the impression that you're not sure you fully support your own argument .

That advice stuck with me, and you should pay attention to it, too, especially when your career is in play. Don't weaken your argument with wishy-washy sentences that start with "I believe," "In my opinion," and "You may disagree, but... " You'll see the difference it makes.

Self-editing is a tough skill to develop, but it's one that can only help your career. It ensures your writing puts your best foot forward, even when you're charming self isn't there to do the talking.

Encyclopedia

Writing with artificial intelligence.

• © 2023 by Joseph M. Moxley - Professor of English - USF

Editing, one of the final steps in the writing process, refers to the process of rereading a text word-by-word, sentence-by-sentence, in order to identify and eliminate errors and problems with the writing style. Editing is crucial to establishing a professional tone in school and workplace contexts . Learn how to edit documents so they meet the needs and expectations of your readers.

Table of Contents

Editing refers to the act of critically reviewing a text with the goal of identifying and rectifying sentence and word-level problems.

For instance, when editing, writers may look for

• problems weaving sources into your argument or analysis
• problems establishing the authority of sources
• problems using the required citation style
• mechanical errors ( capitalization , punctuation , spelling )
• sentence errors , sentence structure errors
• problems with diction , brevity , clarity , flow , inclusivity , register, and simplicity

When editing , writers tend to focus on local concerns as opposed to global concerns . Rather than focusing on big picture stuff like whether they’ve provided the evidence their reader needs to understand their argument or analysis–they focus on critiquing their texts at the word and sentence level . For instance, they may look for spelling errors , typos, word-level errors , punctuation errors , or sentence-structure errors .

Synonymous Terms

The terms , editing, revision , and proofreading may be used interchangeably by some people. However, subject matter experts in writing wtudies make distinctions between these intellectual strategies by noting their different foci:

a focus on the big picture – the global perspective.

• Content Development
• Organization
• Rhetorical Stance

a focus on line-by-line editing – the local perspective

Proofreading

a focus on a last chance to catch any errors

• Final check for errors

Editing may also be referred to as rewriting, revising, modifying, and rewording.

Related Concepts: Critical Literacy ; Global Perspective ; Local Perspective ; Proofreading ; Revision ; Structured Revision; Styles of Writing

Why Does Editing Matter?

Communication , literacy , interpretation —these are complex intellectual processes with loads of moving parts. Lots can go wrong.

For instance, imagine this situation: imagine you are deciding to purchase a used sports car and you reach out to a friend who knows a lot about older sports cars. You ask your friend if the price is right.

“No price too high” your friend tells you. So then you buy the car and drive it over to your friend to show it off. Well, what if your friend had meant to say “No, price too high.”

That single comma can matter in terms of dramatically altering how the document should be interpreted.

Sometimes it’s fine to ship off a text without editing it. In informal and personal occasions, you might even sound a bit odd if you edited your language for Standard Written English .

People may make judgments about your competencies as a communicator — researcher, thinker and communicator based on your writing-style . If you neglect editing,

• your readers, listeners, users may not be able to understand you
• your professionalism, your preparedness to get the job done, may be questioned.

How to Edit

The little changes that you make during editing and proofreading can have a profound and disproportionate effect on your target reader’s experience interpretation of your document.

The following techniques can help you critically evaluate your document at the sentence level:

• After working hard to develop the substance of a message, you may be weary of it and eager to turn it over to your instructor. If possible, however, you are wise to set the draft aside and work on another task before trying to edit it. For example, try editing after you first wake up, then after lunch, and then before dinner. Are you surprised that you can keep finding ways to improve the document?
• It has become commonplace for postsecondary writing instructors in the U.S. to suggest that writers not worry about editing during the early stages of a writing project. This can be sound advice because time spent editing could be wasted if what you’re editing doesn’t respond to the demands of the school assignment or isn’t rhetorically sensitive. Plus, why edit a freewrite when the goal during freewriting is to develop ideas? That said, sometimes little edits can be pauses, like calm breaths after a sprint on a long-distance run, that leads to insights.
• Try reading your document backwards: Begin with the last sentence and move upward toward the introduction
• Place sheets of paper above and below each sentence in the document as you read through it
• Place slashes between each sentence and then evaluate each one separately
• If you are using a personal computer, try printing the document with a different font, such as size 14 or size 10 point instead of the normal size 12.
• Look for mistakes to cluster. When you find one error in paragraph seven, for example, carefully examine the surrounding sentences to see if you had a lapse of concentration when you wrote and copyedited that section.
• Look for errors that you often make, such as sentence fragments or subject-verb agreement.

Related Articles:

Edit for assignment requirements, edit for diction, edit for sentence structure, edit for strings of prepositional phrases, edit paragraphs, recommended.

Academic Writing – How to Write for the Academic Community

Structured Revision – How to Revise Your Work

Professional Writing – How to Write for the Professional World

Credibility & Authority – How to Be Credible & Authoritative in Research, Speech & Writing

Citation Guide – Learn How to Cite Sources in Academic and Professional Writing

Page Design – How to Design Messages for Maximum Impact

Suggested edits.

• Please select the purpose of your message. * - Corrections, Typos, or Edits Technical Support/Problems using the site Advertising with Writing Commons Copyright Issues I am contacting you about something else
• Your full name
• Your email address *
• Page URL needing edits *
• Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
• Joseph M. Moxley , Jenifer Paquette

Being a good editor from the perspective of diction requires declarative knowledge about Archaisms; Bias-Free Language; Cliché; Concrete & Sensory Language; Figurative Language; Homonyms; Jargon; and Vague Language, Generalizations Diction matters a...

• Joseph M. Moxley

Explore the effects of different sentence patterns on reading comprehension.

Proofreading refers to a step in the writing process–the act of critically reading a document with the goal of identifying errors at the word and sentence-level. Proofreading is crucial to establishing a...

Featured Articles

Creative Writing Program

Bachelor of Arts in Humanities

Visionaries Wanted

Stories impact us in profound ways. Good stories can inspire and touch our souls; they bring freshness, life, understanding and clarity to our human experience. They can draw us closer to God and to Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. They are at the core of the entertainment which shapes our culture and society. Under the guidance of experienced writers, JPCatholic students study the discipline and craft of powerfully telling stories for multiple mediums, whether that be a novel, short story, or screenplay.

St. John Paul the Great, a writer and artist himself, wrote extensively encouraging artists to develop their “divine spark”, to create works whose excellence communicates truth and beauty. Many career paths after graduation are available to students in the Creative Writing emphasis, but they are all oriented to contributing to the common good.

“Society needs artists...they not only enrich the cultural heritage of each nation and of all humanity, but they also render an exceptional social service in favor of the common good.”

POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II

Creative Writing Curriculum

Creative Writing Core

All Creative Writing students will take a well-rounded foundation of courses in areas like short fiction, poetry, prose fiction, and non-fiction.

Elective Tracks

Screenwriting

Immerse yourself in opportunities to write for film and television, with the chance to pitch your screenplay to our Feature Film Program.

Study landmark novels, contemporary fiction, and works like Lord of the Rings and The Brothers Karamazov that bridge literature and theology.

Learn more about marketing and publishing, with the opportunity to lead a campus creative arts journal.

General Education

Theology & Philosophy

Impact culture for Christ and grow in faith and understanding through a rich sequence of Scripture based Theology courses and Philosophy courses.

Prepare yourself for a career in writing with skills in marketing, project management, and entrepreneurial thinking.

Study the human condition by actively engaging in an exploration of literature, art, culture, politics, economics, and more.

Envision your future at JPCatholic

Submit your story to the Feature Film Program

JPCatholic’s annual Feature Film Program gives students the opportunity to pitch their scripts to be developed into a full-length movie.

Publish Your Work in Our Student Journal

Our student-published journal Pelican’s Plume provides you with opportunities to share your work in creative writing, poetry, illustration, and more.

Diverse Elective Opportunities

Whether you are interested in poetry, short stories, non-fiction writing, screenwriting, adaptation, or novels, you’ll have the chance to explore and develop your unique voice. You can also delve into electives from our other programs such as illustration, theatre, film, and more.

Our Authentically Catholic Community

Our campus is a place where students can grow both professionally and spiritually. We’re a unique community of artists and innovators, centered around our faith in Jesus Christ and the beauty of the Catholic faith. Immerse yourself in an abundance of opportunities for spiritual growth, including Daily Mass, Confession, Adoration, Rosary, Retreats, and Service Projects.

Our Small Campus Environment

With a total student body under 300, JPCatholic offers a warm, tight-knit campus community. Foster lifelong friendships, form creative partnerships, and surround yourself with a supportive environment that encourages your growth in both virtue and artistic excellence.

Generous Scholarships Available

At JPCatholic, we’re committed to making a quality Catholic education affordable for every student. 99% of our students receive a scholarship, and packages take both need and merit into account. Our personalized financial counseling process assists you in identifying all awards you might be eligible for.

Graduate in 3 Years

Our unique academic model prepares students for the real-world pace of professional life in the industry, with a focus on hands-on projects, internships, and portfolio preparation. The program is structured on a year-round quarter system, and you graduate with your Bachelors Degree in just 12 quarters. Each quarter is 10 weeks long, with about 3 weeks of break between each quarter.

Alumni Success

JPCatholic alumni have found success in a variety of paths, ranging from Hollywood to independent media organizations, and from large corporations to nonprofits to their own entrepreneurial start-ups. View our placement rate and alumni jobs by clicking below.

Located in San Diego County

John Paul the Great Catholic University is centered in north county San Diego, just a 35-minute drive from downtown in America's Finest City. Southern California is famous for its fantastic weather, beautiful beaches and mountains, and bustling metropolitan areas. Our campus is just 15 miles from the beach, a short trip by car or train. And with Los Angeles and Hollywood within striking distance, students have even more opportunities for internships and networking.

Meet the Faculty

With small class sizes and mentorship, professors are able to provide individualized training. They bring decades of experience and unique perspectives from varied backgrounds.

Christopher Riley

Professor of Film

Chris is one of the most authoritative figures for the official screenplay format of Hollywood. He is a screenwriter whose first film, After The Truth, an award-winning courtroom thriller written with his wife, Kathleen Riley, sparked international controversy when it was released in Germany. Other credits include 25 To Life, a dramatic thriller for Junction Entertainment and Touchstone Pictures; The Other White House, a political thriller for Sean Connery's Fountainbridge Films and Intermedia; Aces, an action-adventure romance for Paramount Pictures; and a screen adaptation of the book Actual Innocence for Mandalay Television Pictures and the Fox television network.

A veteran of the Warner Bros. script department, Riley is the author of The Hollywood Standard: The Complete and Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style . From 2005 through 2008, he served as director of the acclaimed Act One Writing Program in Hollywood, which trains Christians for careers as writers and executives in film and TV. Chris holds a BS in Telecommunications from Oral Roberts University and was a National Merit Scholar.

Dr. Julie Anne Stevens

Adjunct Professor of Humanities

Julie Anne has her PhD from Trinity College Dublin. She publishes and lectures on Irish literature and the visual arts, nineteenth and twentieth century Irish and American women’s writing, illustrated children’s books, and short fiction. She took early retirement in August 2021 from Dublin City University to relocate to the United States, and returned to JPCatholic where she had been a visiting professor from 2017-2019. As a tenured lecturer in the School of English, DCU, she served as a convenor for both Research (2015-17) and Teaching and Learning (2020-21). She also served as the Director for the Centre for Children’s Literature and Culture (2009-17). During this time, she was treasurer of the Irish Society for the Study of Children’s Literature (ISSCL) and in 2013 she accepted an invitation to join a panel of judges for the Children’s Books Ireland Awards. She currently is part of the team for the Irish Women’s Writing (1880-1920) Network and one of the editors for their forthcoming double issue of English Studies (2022-23) She published The Irish Scene in Somerville and Ross in 2007 and co-edited The Ghost Story from the Middle Ages to the Twentieth Century in 2010. Somerville Press published her latest book, Two Irish Girls in Bohemia: The Drawings and Writings of E. Œ. Somerville and Martin Ross , in 2017.

Steve Kramp

Professor of Theology and Humanities

Steve is a theologian and prize-winning poet. Prior to coming to JPCatholic he taught courses in writing, literature, and cultural history at a number of universities and colleges, including the University of California, Merced, and the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He holds a BA in English from the University of Oregon, an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and an MA in Theology and Christian Ministry from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He also worked for three years in youth ministry at a Seattle-area parish.

In his classroom teaching Steve often returns to his primary intellectual interest, which is the intersection of faith practice and artistic practice. In addition to his teaching and administrative service as Humanities Chair at JPCatholic, Steve is currently working on Holy Saturday, a series of long poems. Prof. Steve has received a Mandatum from the Bishop of San Diego as an ecclesial recognition of his posture and commitment to teach Theology always in communion with the Church, and in conformance with the requirements of Ex Corde Ecclesiae.

Bill Marsilii

Adjunct Professor of Screenwriting

Bill co-wrote Déjà vu - a romantic time-travel thriller, which at the time was the highest-priced spec screenplay of all time after selling to Jerry Bruckheimer and Touchstone Pictures for $5 million. Déjà vu, which starred Denzel Washington, Paula Patton, Val Kilmer and Jim Caviezel, grossed more than $180 million worldwide. Marsilii sold 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo to Walt Disney Pictures, and with his Deja Vu partner Terry Rossio, sold Lightspeed, a space adventure to Bruckheimer/Disney. More recently, Marsilii adapted the sci-fi comic Sebastian X for producer Gale Anne Hurd and director Martin Campbell, and sold an original project, Cold, to Lionsgate with Reese Witherspoon attached to star and produce. Marsilii has been a guest lecturer at a wide variety of film and screenwriting programs, including those at UCLA TFT, USC, NYU, and Pepperdine. He has served as a mentor for the Act One Screenwriting Program.

Sheryl Anderson

Visiting Professor of TV Writing

Sheryl is an accomplished author, television writer, and producer with over 20 years of experience. Over the course of her career, Sheryl has written and produced for hit TV shows such as Charmed, Flash Gordon, Ties that Bind , and the Netflix original series Sweet Magnolias . She began her career as a development executive for Grant Tinker's GTG Entertainment where she wrote for half-hour sitcoms Parker Lewis Can't Lose and Dave's World. Sheryl has also published four novels in her Molly Forrester series. In addition to her writing, she has taught for Act One, an instructional program for Christian screenwriters, and for UCLA's Writer's Extension Program.

Robin Murray, PhD

Robin is a classicist whose research focusses on Imperial Rome, early Christianity and ancient philosophy. Her dissertation analyzed the theme of death and death preparation in the Satyrica, an ancient novel by Petronius who, although a friend to the Emperor Nero, was forced to commit suicide by him in 66 A.D. More broadly, she studies the Graeco-Roman world and strives to make it relevant to people of today. She received her PhD in Classics from UC Irvine where she taught classes on the history and literature of ancient Greece and Rome and served as the assistant editor to the Classics journal TAPA ( Transactions of the American Philological Society ). She lives in Northern San Diego with her husband and children.

Megan Jauregui Eccles

Megan writes dark, speculative fiction for young adults and is represented by Laura Galit of LKG Agency. Her writing has appeared in Kelp Journal, Coachella Review, Ladies of the Fright, The Lineup, and Dwarf+Giant. She is editorial assistant and social media manager for Hill Nadell Literary Agency. She holds a BA in Music from the University of San Diego and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of California Riverside-Palm Desert. She lives in San Diego with her husband and four sons.

Get an Inside Look

Creative Writing Program Overview

Humanities Program Overview

Joshua David MG: Writing to Express Yourself | Why We Create

Why Study Poetry?

Prof. Nathan Scoggins: Why do stories impact us? | Crash Course in Storytelling

Megan Eccles | Faculty Insights

The Philosophy of Lord of the Rings: Capstone Seminar

Alyssa Helsel: Art Reflects the Artist | Why We Create

How This Class Develops Your Storytelling for Video Games

Start Learning Now

Story Masters Film Academy is an online education platform founded by screenwriting alumna Tara Stone and two JPCatholic faculty, Prof. Chris Riley and Prof. Nathan Scoggins. Story Masters offers online courses in screenwriting and directing for high school students; JPCatholic has partnered with Story Masters to make these two courses eligible toward transfer credit at JPCatholic.

What's Next?

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

• Tell Me More!

[email protected] [email protected]

Students in the program gain experience, confidence, and mastery as writers with the goal of completing excellent work worthy of publication. They do so in an intellectual setting that will deepen their understanding of art and beauty and give them a broad grasp of the western literary tradition especially as it has been shaped by the great Catholic authors of past and present. A First of Its Kind Students will complete three semesters of workshops in their chosen genre (poetry or fiction) and a thesis, while taking exciting, well-integrated seminars in subjects directly related to their work as writers. All MFA courses are conducted as traditional graduate seminar discussions. Each course meets one evening a week for live and lively communal engagement in the study of literature, the improvement of each writer's work, and the building up of a convivial literary community. The MFA in Creative Writing seeks to transform the life and spirit of contemporary literature.  This program is committed to the renewal of serious craft in contemporary literature and the continued revival of the Catholic literary and intellectual tradition. Fellowships The MFA program at the University of St. Thomas offers several fellowships that provide tuition assistance and help students toward the completion of their degree. All applicants and enrolled students are automatically considered for one of several fellowships including: A carousel is a rotating set of images, rotation stops on keyboard focus on carousel tab controls or hovering the mouse pointer over images. Use the tabs or the previous and next buttons to change the displayed slide. Founding Faculty, Cullen Foundation Chair in English Founding Faculty Associate Professor Writer-in-Residence Distinguished Visiting Professor Previous Next A carousel is a rotating set of images, rotation stops on keyboard focus on carousel tab controls or hovering the mouse pointer over images. Use the tabs or the previous and next buttons to change the displayed slide. Previous Next Next steps *Please note: This is an online program and international students cannot maintain or obtain F-1 student visa status or I-20 form through this program. B The Dome Blog Accreditation  - Learn More  Alumni  - Learn More  Bondholder Disclosures  - Learn More  Contact Us  - Learn More  Dean of Students  - Learn More  Emergency & Safety  - Learn More  Employment  - Learn More  Giving  - Learn More  Maps & Directions  - Learn More  Mass Schedule  - View UST's Mass Schedule Online  Offices & Services  - Learn More  HR Policies  - Learn More  Report A Problem  - Learn More  Facilities Work Order Request  - Learn More  HOUSTON’S CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY… #USTHouston | @StThomasHouston Copyright © 2024 University of St. Thomas. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Report Sexual Misconduct Title IX Information Consumer Information Accessibility CARES Act Reporting Awesome! Please select one of the options below: Apply Now, Schedule Visit, or Request Info. Required Application Materials: University of St. Thomas graduate application: Application can be found here . Bachelor’s degree with undergraduate GPA 3.0 or better, or master’s degree (applicants with lower GPA may appeal based on relevant work experience) through plans available. Each applicant should submit a roughly 1,000 word statement of purpose that discusses their influences, motives, and ambitions for pursuing the MFA in creative writing. What works and themes have inspired your work to date? What is the source and shape of your interest in the Catholic literary tradition? There is no need to rehearse one's whole biography or first encounters with good books, but please help us understand what has shaped you as an artist and what kind of work do you hope to accomplish as a writer? Applicants should submit either 10-15 pages of poetry or 15-25 double-spaced pages of fiction. The fiction can be either an excerpt from a longer, novel-length work or a longer short story, or several short stories. Please include your full name as a header on each page of the MS. Official Transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended. University of St. Thomas Office of Graduate Admissions 3800 Montrose Blvd., Box #6 Houston, TX 77006-4626 Email: [email protected] The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program offers degrees specializing in fiction and poetry, please take a look at the degree plans for each: Fiction Degree Plan   Poetry Degree Plan CRTW 6312 Foundations of the Catholic Literary Tradition A close reading of foundational and seminal works that form the Catholic West: Virgil, The Aeneid ; St. Augustine, Confessions ; Dante, Divine Comedy ; Manzoni, The Betrothed. CRTW 6303 The Art and Metaphysics of Fiction : An inquiry into the nature and aim of fiction ranging from classic to contemporary works: Aristotle’s Poetics ; Henry James’ The Art of Fiction; Flannery O’Connor’s Mystery and Manners ; William Lynch’s Christ and Apollo: The Dimensions of the Literary Imagination ; Caroline Gordon’s How to Read a Novel ; James Wood’s How Fiction Works ; Douglas Bauer’s The Stuff of Fiction: Advice on Craft, Joan Silber’s The Art of Time in Fiction, and Charles Baxter’s The Art of Subtext. CRTW 6302 The Craft of Poetry : An introduction to the theory and practice of prosody with particular attention to stanzaic and genre forms. Students will study and compose poems in the various major forms of the English Poetic Tradition. CRTW 6306 The Poetry of Meditation: A study of lyric poets alongside texts of philosophy and theology that deepen and complement poetic theory. Students will write imitations of the authors read as exercises in addition to completing scholarly analysis. CRTW 6309 The European Catholic Literary Revival : Study of major European literary works which embody, in exemplary ways, what makes the Catholic imagination distinctive, expansive, beautiful, and true. Catholic literary tradition. Prospective authors include: Leon Bloy, Georges Bernanos, Paul Claudel, Francois Mauriac, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Muriel Spark, Evelyn Waugh, J.RR. Tolkien, G.K. Chesterton, and Sigird Undset. CRTW 6310 The Catholic Imagination in Modern American Literature: A study of the major American writers of the Catholic Literary Revival and the contemporary authors who succeeded them. Prospective authors include: George Santayana, Allen Tate, Robert Lowell, Caroline Gordon, Flannery O’Connor, Thomas Merton, Walker Percy, J.F. Powers, Helen Pinkerton, John Finlay, Alice McDermott, Christopher Beha, and Dana Gioia. CRTW 6305 The Philosophy of Art and Beauty : This course would grant students a philosophical understanding of the nature of beauty and the fine arts. Principal texts include: Plato’s Symposium and Phaedrus ; Jacques Maritain’s Art and Scholasticism, Etienne Gilson’s Arts of the Beautiful ; Pseudo-Dionysius’ Divine Names. CRTW 6300 Graduate Poetry Workshop . Course will be devoted to the exploration of craft techniques and revision processes of poetry with student drafts as the primary texts and the workshop model of compliment and critique as the mode of education.  CRTW 6301 Graduate Fiction Workshop . Course will be devoted to the exploration of craft techniques and revision processes of short stories and novel excerpts with student drafts as the primary texts and the workshop model of compliment and critique as the mode of education. CRTW 6304 Non-Fiction Writing Workshop Course will be devoted to the exploration of craft techniques and revision processes of non-fiction with student drafts as the primary texts and the workshop model of compliment and critique as the mode of education.  CRTW 6313 Advanced Fiction Seminar:  Students will learn to identify the aspects of craft at work in exemplary fiction. ELECTIVE. CRTW 6314 Advanced Poetry Seminar:  Students will learn to identify the aspects of craft at work in exemplary poetry. ELECTIVE. CRTW 6398/6399 Directed Thesis in Poetry or Fiction: Students will complete an individuated tutorial, working with a faculty mentor, to complete a publishable manuscript (a poetry or short story collection, novel, or other comparable work). CRTW 6308/6307 The Residency in Poetry or Fiction: An intensive course consisting primarily of a 10-day residency, during which time students convene for morning workshops in their chosen genres (poetry or fiction); engage in an intensive afternoon seminar on an annual theme (e.g. major authors in contemporary literature; Catholic literature of eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia; the Sacramental imagination); and attend evening lectures and readings by distinguished writers and scholars complementary of the seminar theme. James Matthew Wilson has published ten books, among them four collections of poems, including The Strangeness of the Good . His poems, essays, and reviews appear regularly in a wide range of magazines and journals. The winner of the 2017 Hiett Prize from the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, Wilson also serves as Poet-in-Residence of the Benedict XVI Institute for Sacred Music and Divine Worship, poetry editor of Modern Age magazine, and series editor of Colosseum Books, a new imprint that publishes the best contemporary poetry and literary criticism of serious craft and spiritual depth. Wilson was educated at the University of Michigan (B.A.), the University of Massachusetts (M.A.), and the University of Notre Dame (M.F.A., Ph.D.), where he subsequently held a Sorin Research Fellowship. Joshua Hren is the founder and publisher of Wiseblood Books, perhaps the most distinguished and ambitious small literary press of our day. Joshua regularly publishes essays and poems in such journals as First Things , America, Public Discourse, Commonweal, National Review, Catholic World Report, The Englewood Review of Books , University Bookman, Law & Liberty, and LOGOS . Joshua has written seven books: the short story collections This Our Exile and In the Wine Press ; a book of poems called Last Things, First Things, & Other Lost Causes ; Middle-earth and the Return of the Common Good: J.R.R. Tolkien and Political Philosophy ; How to Read ( and Write) Like a Catholic ; a novel Infinite Regress ; and the theological-aesthetical manifesto Contemplative Realism. Hren is a graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (B.A, M.A, Ph.D.). Dana will deliver a keynote reading for the Summer Literary Series on July 10, 2023 from 7:15pm – 8:45pm in the UST Cullen Auditorium. This event will also be available as a live stream. Randy will deliver a keynote reading for the Summer Literary Series on July 15, 2023 from 7:15pm – 8:45pm in the UST Cullen Auditorium. A.M. will deliver a keynote reading for the Summer Literary Series on June 13, 2024 at 7:15pm in the UST Cullen Hall Auditorium. Catharine will deliver a keynote reading for the Summer Literary Series on July 7, 2023 from 7:15pm – 8:45pm in the UST Cullen Auditorium. This event will also be available as a live stream. Angela will deliver a keynote lecture on “'The World Is Almost Rotten': Flannery O'Connor & the Hot Pursuit of The Real” on June 24, 2024 and a keynote reading for the Summer Literary Series on June 25, 2024.  Both events will be at 7:15pm in the UST Cullen Hall Auditorium. Adam will deliver a keynote reading for the Summer Literary Series on June 17, 2024 at 7:15pm in the UST Cullen Hall Auditorium. For more information about the Master of Fines Arts in Creative Writing, please contact one of the founding faculty: James Matthew Wilson Poetry [email protected] Joshua Michael Hren Fiction [email protected] He has hosted two 13-part television series about Shakespeare on EWTN, and has also written and presented documentaries on EWTN on the Catholicism of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit . His verse drama, Death Comes for the War Poets , was performed off-Broadway to critical acclaim. He has participated and lectured at a wide variety of international and literary events at major colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, Britain, Europe, Africa and South America. He is editor of the St. Austin Review ( staustinreview.org ), series editor of the Ignatius Critical Editions ( ignatiuscriticaleditions.com ), senior instructor with Homeschool Connections ( homeschoolconnectionsonline.com ), and senior contributor at the Imaginative Conservative . His personal website is jpearce.co . Katy Carl is the author of  As Earth Without Water, a novel  (Wiseblood, 2021) and  Fragile Objects  (Wiseblood, 2023, forthcoming). She is a senior affiliate fellow of the Program for Research on Religion and Urban Civil Society through the University of Pennsylvania and editor in chief of  Dappled Things  magazine in partnership with the Ars Vivendi Initiative of the Collegium Institute. Brigid Pasulka's debut novel  A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True  (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) won the PEN/Hemingway Award, the Barnes & Noble Discover Award, and the Polish American Historical Society Creative Arts Award. It was translated into six languages, including Polish.  Her second novel,  The Sun and Other Stars  (Simon & Schuster) was a  Chicago Tribune  Editor's Choice and an Indie Next Pick. Pasulka’s short stories have been published in various literary journals. She lives with her husband and son in Northern Michigan. Virtual Tour Experience University of Idaho with a virtual tour. Explore now Discover a Career Find a Major Experience U of I Life More Resources Admitted Students International Students Take Action Find Financial Aid View Deadlines Find Your Rep Helping to ensure U of I is a safe and engaging place for students to learn and be successful. Read about Title IX. Get Involved Clubs & Volunteer Opportunities Recreation and Wellbeing Student Government Student Sustainability Cooperative Academic Assistance Safety & Security Career Services Health & Wellness Services Register for Classes Dates & Deadlines Financial Aid Sustainable Solutions U of I Library Upcoming Events Review the events calendar. Stay Connected Vandal Family Newsletter Here We Have Idaho Magazine Living on Campus Campus Safety About Moscow The largest Vandal Family reunion of the year. Check dates. Benefits and Services Vandal Voyagers Program Vandal License Plate Submit Class Notes Make a Gift View Events Alumni Chapters University Magazine Alumni Newsletter SlateConnect U of I's web-based retention and advising tool provides an efficient way to guide and support students on their road to graduation. Login to SlateConnect. Common Tools Administrative Procedures Manual (APM) Class Schedule OIT Tech Support Academic Dates & Deadlines U of I Retirees Association Faculty Senate Staff Council Department of English M.f.a. creative writing. English Department Physical Address: 200 Brink Hall Mailing Address: English Department University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1102 Moscow, Idaho 83844-1102 Phone: 208-885-6156 Email: [email protected] Web: English About the M.F.A. in Creative Writing Career information is not specific to degree level. Some career options may require an advanced degree. Current Job Openings and Salary Range in ID, WA, OR, MT and HI Entry-Level Senior-Level Career Options Advertising and Promotions Manager English Language and Literature Teacher, Postsecondary Public Relations Specialist Technical Writer Writer or Author Poet, Lyricist or Creative Writer Regional Employment Trends 113K 118K 121K 124K 126K Employment trends and projected job growth in ID, WA, OR, MT & HI *Job data is collected from national, state and private sources. For more information, visit EMSI's data sources page . Degree Prep Our students arrive as accomplished writers and readers, and while many have not yet published their stories, poems and essays, most will do so during their time in the program. An undergraduate English degree is not mandatory — our students come from diverse cultural, geographical, and artistic backgrounds, and at different times in their professional and personal lives. If you’re ready to write, apply now . Degree Roadmap Ours is a three-year program, over the course of which each student works toward assembling a manuscript of publishable quality. In addition to regular workshops in a student's given genre, our program requires 18 credits of literature courses and traditions seminars be completed during the program. Some recent offerings: Genre-Crossing Women and Poetry Geographies of Nonfiction The Raptures of Research in Fiction Writing Traditions of Lifewriting Independence and Inquiry: A Nonfiction Techniques Studio Scholarships The College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences provides annual scholarship awards totaling approximately $1,600,000. For information on specific scholarships, please email  [email protected] . You can find general need- and merit-based scholarships on the Financial Aid Office's scholarships page. Teaching Assistantships carry value up to $26,000; other departmental scholarships can supplement this by $2,000 or more annually.  To learn more about FAFSA deadlines and processes, available scholarships, and financial aid program types and eligibility requirements, please visit the University of Idaho  Financial Aid Office . Hands-On Learning Teaching assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis. The program also offers fellowships for summer workshops and writing retreats. Job Openings and Salary Range Employment Trends Mastering the Art of Creativity Polish your craft and develop your voice as a professional writer in a program that features intensive theoretical and practical training across genres. Enjoy a supportive learning environment with an award-winning faculty and benefit from opportunities to be published and mentored through the Distinguished Visiting Writers Program. Our M.F.A. program is three years. We offer full and equitable funding for all students through Teaching Assistantships and tuition waivers. We admit two to four students per genre each year (nine students per cohort, on average). Our program is small by design, ensuring that community and mentorship are central to the experience of our degree candidates. All admitted students gain real-world skills through classroom teaching. We offer flexible degree paths in Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction, and encourage cross- and multi-genre study or single-genre study, depending on a student’s artist goals. Our faculty value student-centered classroom spaces where mentoring, community, and reciprocity are tightly held values. All classes are taught by working writers who have a passion for teaching. The Distinguished Visiting Writers Series brings field-leading authors to campus to read from their work, interface with students and the community, and lead MFA seminars. Fellowship opportunities include participating in Writing in the Wild at Taylor Ranch in the Frank Church Wilderness Area; University Fellowships at the Centrum Writers Conference; the Hemingway Fellowship for fiction writers; and the Academy of American Poets University Prize. Students have the opportunity to serve as editors for our esteemed national literary journal Fugue. Over the past three decades, our distinguished alumni have published over 100 books with our country’s finest trade, independent, and university presses. Students and alumni are the lifeblood of our storied MFA program. Meet Our Faculty M.F.A. English Faculty Meet Our Students M.F.A English Students 251 IMAGES Editing for Creative Writing Top 5 Tips for Editing Writing How to Edit: 25 Tips for Improving Your Writing (Plus an Editing 11 Tips for Editing Your Own Writing (Plus a Checklist) How to Edit: 25 Tips for Improving Your Writing (Plus an Editing Checklist) Three Tips for Editing Your Own Writing COMMENTS How to Edit: 25 Tips for Improving Your Writing (Plus an Editing Checklist) Learning how to edit? Before sharing your writing with the world, apply these editing tips. We show you exactly how to make edits to your own work, using an editing checklist. How to Self-Edit: 10 Tips for Editing Your Own Writing Editing writing draws upon different skills than creative storytelling, which makes self-editing difficult for many writers. If hiring an editor isn't an option, you will want to improve your own editing skills to increase your writing's readability and overall quality. Types of Editing: An Inside Look at What Editors Do In this guide, we'll take you through the different types of editing and offer insights from Reedsy's deep roster of expert manuscript editors . 5 common types of editing in publishing: 1. Editorial assessment. 2. Developmental editing. 3. Copy editing. 4. How to Edit a Short Story: A Step-By-Step Process Every Writer Can Handle Most writers don't like to edit their story, but it's necessary if they want readers to enjoy it. Learn how to edit a short story here. How to Edit Writing in 3 Steps, With Examples Learning how to edit can make you a better writer and is an important step in the writing process. Up-level your editing skills with these essential tips. 11 Tips for Editing Your Own Writing I use most of these techniques to help polish my own writing before sending it to my editor, which brings down the costs. Below are 11 tips for editing your writing to hone your craft and a cheat sheet you can download. The Art of Editing: A Guide for Writers Discover simple and effective editing tips and proofreading techniques to self-edit your work with confidence and unlock the potential of your writing. How to Edit Your Writing: An Effective 7-Step Process A simple and effective 7-step editing process that will help you become a better editor and a better writer. How to Edit Your Own Writing Writing is hard, but don't overlook the difficulty — and the importance — of editing your own work before letting others see it. Here's how. What is Editing? Editing is a process that involves revising the content, organization, grammar, and presentation of a piece of writing. The purpose of editing is to ensure that your ideas are presented to your reader as clearly as possible. Proofreading focuses on checking for accuracy in smaller details of your work. It is a part of the overall editing ... Self Editing: How to Edit Your Own Writing How and when should you edit your own writing? Learn strategies and tricks that will help you improve your self-editing skills. 11 Tips for Editing Your Own Writing (Plus a Checklist) Become a Better Editor Self-editing is a key part of the writing process. It can transform average content into great content that people love to read. As you become more aware of your writing strengths and weaknesses, your editing skills will also improve. Use these editing tips for your next writing project. Top Ten Most Common Editing Mistakes Made by Writers and How ... Nowadays, creative writing teachers will tell you to cut ruthlessly as any unnecessary words or sentences will weaken your story, meaning even some of the greatest fiction writers would fail a ... Earning A Master's In Creative Writing: What To Know In a creative writing master's degree program, you can expect to analyze literature, explore historical contexts of literary works, master techniques for revising and editing, engage in class ... Writing and Editing: Word Choice and Word Order Offered by University of Michigan. This course will teach you how to use your written words to become more persuasive. You'll learn creative ... Enroll for free. How to Boost Creativity and Improve Your Creative Writing A creative writer strives to tell unique stories in a distinctive voice. Yet with all the fiction writing already out there in the world, it can be hard to feel that your work is legitimately creative compared to the competition. You could be a first-time writer completing in a high school creative writing course, a hobbyist working on your first novel, or a seasoned pro with an MFA who's ... 5 Steps for Editing Your Own Writing One of the best lessons you can learn about writing isn't writing at all--it's editing. Read on for tips from an editing pro for honing, trimming, and morphing clumsy words and phrases into a clear, concise message that will knock the socks off your audience. Editing Editing, one of the final steps in the writing process, refers to the process of rereading a text word-by-word, sentence-by-sentence, in order to identify and eliminate errors and problems with the writing style. Editing is crucial to establishing a professional tone in school and workplace contexts. Learn how to edit documents so they meet the needs and expectations of your readers. 10 Perfect Pieces of Advice on How to Edit Your Writing Spring has sprung, and it's time to tidy up your writing. You can't create great writing without great editing. Here are ten of our best tips for editing your work. Creative Writing: Drafting, Revising and Editing Drafting, revising and editing are essential parts of successful writing. This book provides a clear overview of these processes and their place in the overall practice of creative writing. Creative Writing Program JPCatholics' Creative Writing program features the discipline and craft of powerfully telling stories for multiple mediums, novel, short story, or screenplay. Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization Offered by University of Michigan. Writing. Editing. Persuasion. Learn the mechanics and strategy of effective communication. Enroll for free. Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing The University of St. Thomas offers a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Taught by accomplished writers, graduates will gain experience, confidence, and mastery in writing, and will be prepared for careers in writing, editing, publishing, and education. About the M.F.A. in Creative Writing Mastering the Art of Creativity Polish your craft and develop your voice as a professional writer in a program that features intensive theoretical and practical training across genres. Enjoy a supportive learning environment with an award-winning faculty and benefit from opportunities to be published and mentored through the Distinguished Visiting Writers Program. teaching creative writing jobs in Remote Possess a strong writing style with excellent English-language spelling and grammar skills. Have a critical eye and the ability to clearly articulate the strengths and weaknesses of written text. Professional writing experience as a researcher, journalist, technical writer, editor, or similar roles; Interest in AI and machine learning concepts assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis