my 5 step process for editing written content

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.

Thanks!

Interested in working together?

You can contact me at:@RansomPatterson

ransom@grammarissexy.net

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)