The first draft of a written piece – whether it’s a news release, media pitch, blog post or some other PR asset – should never be the final version. PR experts know that editing your own copy is part of the writing process.
Good writers can improve their writing every time they go back through it with a proverbial red pen. Here are four tips to help you edit your own work:
- Read aloud.
Reading something you’ve written out loud is one of the best ways to find errors. It may feel uncomfortable hearing your writing – especially if you’ve never done it before – but the results are worth it.
Our brains are wired to fill in missing words and subconsciously make other grammatical corrections when we read silently to ourselves. When we read aloud, however, we hear mistakes that might otherwise go undetected. The act itself forces you to notice every word and punctuation mark.
- Step away.
Sometimes you’re too familiar with and close to something you’ve written to effectively review it. Taking a break from the project for a few hours, or overnight if possible, provides valuable distance from copy you might even have partially memorized. Putting a little space between you and your work can help you see it with fresh eyes. By the time you return to the task, the words will feel less personal and more dispensable. And that will make it easier to revise.
- Change methods.
Instead of continuing to repeatedly re-read copy on a computer screen and using the editing tool built into your word processing software, try changing your approach. As examples:
- Change the font;
- Switch the color of the type; or
- Print out the document and use an actual red pen to mark it up.
The idea is to see your work from a new perspective. When you look at a piece of writing differently, it can spark ideas for better ways of wording certain passages or reveal opportunities to remove superfluous words.
- Challenge yourself.
As you read back through your writing, pause after every sentence or paragraph and try to clarify, shorten or sharpen the thought. Consider word choices, double-check punctuation, eliminate redundant points, use the active voice and trim verbiage wherever possible. Brevity and a lack of jargon also help to effectively communicate the messages you want to convey.
Being able to write well – which includes self-editing – is a skill a lot of people don’t possess. That’s where an outside resource can really add value to your organization. For example, everyone at GYC Vegas – a boutique public relations agency that specializes in integrated marketing communications – is a professional writer and proficient self-editor. We apply the tips and techniques described above for our clients every day.
Then, after we produce high-quality pieces of PR writing, we strategically leverage them to influence target audiences. We understand that well-written press materials form the foundation that supports all the tactics we implement on behalf of our clients, and that success is unlikely without them. Contact us for a free consultation to learn how we can create compelling content that leads to brand awareness and consumer engagement.