The First Step to Being a Better Writer

There’s a famous quote often attributed to Mark Twain that goes, “I have made this letter longer than usual, only because I have not had time to make it shorter.”

That stands alone as the best way to make your writing better.

Cut. Cut. Cut.

Editing your own writing can prove difficult, but the task becomes less intimidating once you employ a strategy.

Back Away

When we write, we often pour ourselves into our work, spending hours and hours refining our masterpieces. How then do we edit down the words that matter so much to us?

Back away.

Seriously, no matter what you’re writing and what your deadline may be, try to take a break from it before diving into your editing process. That break should help you determine what’s worth keeping and what you should ditch.

Even if it’s only 15 minutes, that time away to refresh could make the difference between good writing and great writing.

Would Mom Read This?

After you’ve taken a breather from your work, come back to it and ask yourself a question. And be honest with the answer.

Would my mother want to read this?

Chances are that your mom may be the average reader, so her perceived opinion and impression of your piece could help guide what shines in your piece and what lacks luster. And remember, your mom doesn’t have to be your ideal reader.

Select someone you respect who has selective tastes for what they read. Once you read your writing with your “mom” filter on, you’ll know what other clunky words, sentences and passages need to disappear.

What Matters to You the Most?

Next, you face the most difficult part of this process. Find the sentence, paragraph or quote that matters to you the most and cut it.

I bet you’re cringing right now, but trust me – it works.

More often than not, the words that matter to us most have the tiniest impact on the final product we’re reaching for. Keep that in mind as you reread your piece.

I’m not saying you should lose the lead you crafted ever so carefully or ditch that dialogue that makes your characters real, but you should question every single word. I’ll bet there’s a passage or two that you just love.

You love it because you wrote it – not because it’s good or that it adds to the writing. That’s what you need to lose the most.

Real Editing is Ruthless

Editing your own work is near impossible, but if you use these steps, it’ll become easier. You’ll find yourself churning out shorter and shorter pieces, and you’ll discover that you and your readers will be more engaged with what you’re writing.

Quote me on that.

And hey, don’t forget to share your editing tips below. Let’s help each other out!