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my 5 step processfor editing
written contentBy Ransom Patterson
Maybe you’ve always wondered:
How do you edit...
✖ Blog posts✖ E-books✖ Webpage copy
?
I can’t speak for all editors...
...but I can show you...
How I Do it
It’s a 5 Step Process
3.Deep Edit
2.Initial Edits
1.Background
Research
4.Feedback
5.Final
Conversation
Let’s break each of these steps down a bit further...
It all starts with...
1.Background Research
I get to know the client and their brand by...
✖ Reading their website✖ Reading their blog (if
they have one)✖ Asking targeted
questions such as:
✖ What are your goals for this content?
✖ What’s one thing you wish you could improve about your writing?
✖ What’s the desired “next action” for your audience after reading this?
From there, I move to...
2.Initial Edits
I read through the manuscript to get an initial impression.
I try to read the manuscript as a member of the client’s audience
would.
I correct obvious errors as I find them, but for the most part I focus
on...
Understandingthe author’s message and intentions.
After that, it’s time for...
3.Deep Edits
I labor over every word, sentence, and paragraph until it’s perfect.
I make note of anything confusing...
✖ Style✖ Focus✖ Purpose✖ Flow
...And I make general notes about
and the client receives...
Something like this:
From there, it’s time for...
4.Feedback
I deliver my edits to the client, and they make note of any questions.
We go back and forth until we reach...
A Result we can both be proud of.
All that’s left after that is the...
5.Final Conversation
I deliver the final manuscript to the client, tie up any loose ends, and ask the
client a few questions such as:
✖ What was the best part of working with me?
✖ What could I have done better?
✖ Would you recommend me to a friend or colleague?
✖ Any additional comments?
For good measure, here’s the process one more time:
5 steps
3.Deep Edit
2.Initial Edits
1.Background
Research
4.Feedback
5.Final
Conversation
And that’s all there is to it, folks.
Credits
Special thanks to all the people who made and released these awesome resources for free:✖ Presentation template by SlidesCarnival✖ Photographs by Unsplash and via Flickr (corgi
image)
