D's Writing Pad
Creative Editing – Keeping the Reader Interested
When it comes to writing most writers can go on and on. It’s like a professional speaker who has given several speeches; we just know how to draw a subject out. The problem isn’t the fact that a proficient writer can jam a thousand words together on just about any subject, it’s when the writer starts to ramble that becomes the problem. Not everyone can handle a thousand words on the subject of, for example toaster ovens. Having a shorter article or story doesn’t mean you leave things out if you know how to edit the piece appropriately.
Writing of any type is creative. Writers have to find new ways of saying some of the same information, especially when discussing products. They have to be able to tell people what they want to know in an entertaining and informative way. People just don’t have the time they used to so that’s where being creative comes into play.
Being creative though isn’t just about writing. You also have to be creative in the edits that you make. Say you have a piece that’s too long even though you know you’ve cut out the parts that have nothing to do with the plot or subject of the piece. If that’s the case you have to be careful in what you take out. You have to creatively remove the pieces that, while they may matter to the piece they aren’t going to ruin the piece by being absent.
To creatively edit your work into a publishable piece, takes time. You have to be willing to give up a portion that you really like in order to allow a paragraph or passage stay that do more for the subject or plot than your favorite saying or passage. If the remaining portion can be rewritten to include tidbits of the removed without setting the piece back then by all means rewrite it. But if messing with that portion means damaging the subject or plot of the story then do not touch it.
Editing is difficult work but with a little time and a lot of practice you can be as creative in your editing as you are in your writing.
Writing of any type is creative. Writers have to find new ways of saying some of the same information, especially when discussing products. They have to be able to tell people what they want to know in an entertaining and informative way. People just don’t have the time they used to so that’s where being creative comes into play.
Being creative though isn’t just about writing. You also have to be creative in the edits that you make. Say you have a piece that’s too long even though you know you’ve cut out the parts that have nothing to do with the plot or subject of the piece. If that’s the case you have to be careful in what you take out. You have to creatively remove the pieces that, while they may matter to the piece they aren’t going to ruin the piece by being absent.
To creatively edit your work into a publishable piece, takes time. You have to be willing to give up a portion that you really like in order to allow a paragraph or passage stay that do more for the subject or plot than your favorite saying or passage. If the remaining portion can be rewritten to include tidbits of the removed without setting the piece back then by all means rewrite it. But if messing with that portion means damaging the subject or plot of the story then do not touch it.
Editing is difficult work but with a little time and a lot of practice you can be as creative in your editing as you are in your writing.
Punctuation - More Than Just Symbols
Punctuation is extremely important when it comes to writing. These useful marks have more to do with making your writing readable than just adding pretty symbols along the way. They allow the reader to know when to pause, when to take a breath, when to stop, and even when someone is saying something. They are often overlooked when it comes to writing but they are oh, so important.
There are several punctuation marks that can be used through the course of writing. Periods, exclamation points, and question marks can end a sentence allowing the reader to know when to stop and what tone the sentence takes on. These are the most common marks that you'll see when you are reading and writing. But what other punctuation marks are available to make the work flow?
The comma, colon, hyphen, dash, brackets, quotation marks, and even the apostrophe can assist you in your writing. The comma helps you're reader know when to take a pause. The colon has several uses including ratios and letting the reader know when a list is forth coming. The hyphen connects elements of compound words and allows the reader to see that something was spelled out in a story. The dash allows the reader to know the information following the dash either is an explanation or to show that the speaker was interrupted in mid-sentence. Brackets allow the reader to see into the writer's thoughts [even if they have nothing to do with the story]. Quotation marks allow the reader to see that someone said something. They are also used to quote other sources. The apostrophe shows possession and contractions of words.
These of course are just a few of the punctuation marks available to writers. These different symbols really do make or break your writing. Without them they would be just a rambling of words that inherently make no sense.
There are several punctuation marks that can be used through the course of writing. Periods, exclamation points, and question marks can end a sentence allowing the reader to know when to stop and what tone the sentence takes on. These are the most common marks that you'll see when you are reading and writing. But what other punctuation marks are available to make the work flow?
The comma, colon, hyphen, dash, brackets, quotation marks, and even the apostrophe can assist you in your writing. The comma helps you're reader know when to take a pause. The colon has several uses including ratios and letting the reader know when a list is forth coming. The hyphen connects elements of compound words and allows the reader to see that something was spelled out in a story. The dash allows the reader to know the information following the dash either is an explanation or to show that the speaker was interrupted in mid-sentence. Brackets allow the reader to see into the writer's thoughts [even if they have nothing to do with the story]. Quotation marks allow the reader to see that someone said something. They are also used to quote other sources. The apostrophe shows possession and contractions of words.
These of course are just a few of the punctuation marks available to writers. These different symbols really do make or break your writing. Without them they would be just a rambling of words that inherently make no sense.
