Editing tools
Edit me, Please?
What editing magic spells do you cast to increase the power of your own writing?
As much as we work to develop our writing process, we really have no choice but to develop an editing one too.
How often do you proofread your writing?
As you are writing?
Once you are finished? Or both?
Or something else?
Do you read it out loud to yourself? To your dog?
Lately, I have been working on my own editing process and figuring out ways to enhance it. And also figuring out ways for it NOT to impede me from actually writing.
Because not only does your writing speak for you, but the way you wrap up and present your final product in the end, speaks the loudest.
Tools That Help Along The Way!
Proofread and edit your documents as many times as you need to! I edit mine countless times, and even then I am still never sure it is enough.
Don’t go it alone! Invest in some tools to help you with this! This is an investment that will pay for itself many times over. I have also found that many of the free applications work just as well.
I use ProWritingAid along with the free Grammarly version. Well, I used Grammarly first, and then ProWritingAid second, but now I can’t quite decide which one I like better. So I had this idea to use both of them at once.
I would not recommend this technique unless you want two apps fighting with each other and potentially light up your document like a Christmas tree. Grammarly commands a comma, ProWritingAid commands NO comma! You must pick a side. To comma or not to comma, that IS the question!
WORD OF WARNING — There may be times that your own brain doesn’t agree with either of their suggestions! It just doesn’t sound or look right to you for whatever reason. Perhaps you might consult Google — now you have even more opinions involved! It can be a slippery slope, honestly. (If you want more information on Grammarly Vs. ProWritingAid, here is a nice write-up that I came across recently.)
More Magic
Title Case Converter is a useful tool. A capitalization tool for your titles and subtitles. It offers explanations as to why some words are capitalized, and why some are not.
The Hemingway App is outstanding. And free! It is a site you can use right from your desktop — just copy and paste your document and viola!
Duplichecker is a handy little tool where you can check for plagiarized content.
Slick Write is a free application that will allow you to check for spelling, grammar, and style issues. What I like is that you can customize the feedback for your own writing.
1Checker is also free and only requires that you sign up with your email. It checks your spelling, grammar, and enhances readability.
Ginger has a free online grammar checker and a free Google chrome extension. There are premium plans that include a proofreading service and style checker.
Keep Searching and Keep Growing!
Each and every day, find fresh ways to improve, expand and catapult your writing and editing.
Keep up on the latest news and technology. Find out what is up and coming.
Write whenever you can! Write under the light of the moon and the stars — you never know where you can go!
What is your process?
