Why All Writers Need Editors

It’s not just about finding a typo or a misspelling, although that is incredibly important. You don’t want your reader to get tripped up on something small.

But you also want an editor that will provide what I call a “macro view” of your work.

As a professional editor and writer, I always have someone look at my work before I share it. Sometimes he finds very little to change. But often, my editor finds something I missed or asks a question I hadn’t thought of. It’s about getting an objective, fresh look at your work. Being a good writer requires being open to honest and constructive feedback.

An editor can help you answer these questions:

• Is the message coming across? Or is it buried?
• Are you saying more than you need to? It’s difficult to write concisely. But it’s possible to convey your message in half the space for a much bigger impact.
• Does your lead sentence capture the reader’s attention? If you don’t grab readers’ attention from the get-go, chances are it will be difficult to retain it.
• Is the tone right for the target audience? And is it right for the message you’re trying to convey?
• Is there a better way to present the information? Keep in mind that readers are far more likely to scan your content than dive right in. Use bullets, subheads, pulled quotes and graphics to support your message.

Your goal should be to pull readers in and engage them until the end. But these days, readers are overloaded with information. Get a second take on your writing to make sure that what you’re adding to the mix stands out.

Learn about 3 Aspens Media’s writing and editing services.