The Importance of Editing

A common misconception is writing is just that: writing. There is a lot of hard work that goes into developing a presentable piece. The most critical element of the process is editing.

What is editing?

Editing isn't just reading a piece of writing over for typos. Editing is partly the essence of writing. The writer is trying to get a certain idea, a certain perspective, across to the reader. Editing allows them to do that. The writer is trying to convey certain thoughts or emotions. Editing allows for that, as well.

So what is editing? Yes, it is looking for mistakes, but not just of the missed period or "to/too/two" variety. Editing should be done to help present a clear, cohesive piece. Here are a few things to look for while editing, and why they are important.

Fictional Concerns

A writer can have a great idea for a story ruined by poor editing. In fiction, it's not just grammar and spelling that is important. The most important part is consistency. If you are writing fiction, try to have an outline of your story written before working on it. Establish who the characters are and important location and plot details. Then, when you finish a first draft, check for any lapses in logic. Your characters should be consistent. The settings should be consistent. The plot should add up in the end. Are there any unusual jumps? Unclear passages? Unnecessary asides? The reason why editing is important for fiction is consistency. If your story doesn't make sense to the reader, it's probably because of editing. Edit the story after every draft for grammar, syntax, and spelling errors; more importantly, edit to make sure the story still makes sense.

Matter of Opinion

When writing opinion pieces, it's very easy to get sidetracked. If the piece is published like this, the reader will most likely become confused and not understand the point. That reaction is caused by poor editing. Opinion pieces need to be edited for clarity and consistency. If you are writing an opinion piece, you probably have a viewpoint on the issue. When editing each draft, check and see if that viewpoint comes across clearly. Do you present any contradictions? Any unnecessary asides? Is your tone appropriate to the piece? Are you insulting to the opposite viewpoint? Do you acknowledge the opposite viewpoint? Does your piece actually say something. Editing an opinion piece for consistency and clarity helps avoid these common pitfalls.

Fact Check-out

Nonfiction writing can be the most challenging of all. The reader is looking for facts. Editing non-fiction gives the writer the opportunity to make sure their article is non-fiction. If you are writing a non-fiction article, a lot of the editing work actually occurs before you even begin to write. When you research a topic, you already begin editing by choosing what references and resources you use. You don't want to cite irrelevant facts or articles that don't support your specific angle. You also edit down that relevant research to what you will use. Are you using direct quotations? Or just the concepts behind them? Do you agree with the author? Are there any contradictions in the research? By editing in the development phase, your article will only be stronger. After completing drafts, you still need to edit to make sure your piece is consistent and factual. Editing non-fiction is perhaps the most integral part of the entire writing process.

Conclusion

Editing is important to any style of writing. Writing needs to be clear and consistent to have an impact. Editing, not just for spelling and grammar mistakes, allows that to happen. The editing process can only improve writing in the end.