The Writer’s Guide to Self-Editing

5 easy ways to perfect your writing without stressing the small stuff.

Photo by Kat Stokes on Unsplash

Last week I wrote about how unfiltered, child-like feedback can help us improve our writing. But what if you aren’t ready to share your work — or don’t have anyone you trust enough to share it with?

Want to Improve Your Writing? Find Someone Who Edits It Like a Child.

That’s where a little self-editing comes in handy.

Don’t worry, this doesn’t require you to memorize every single entry and nuance tucked inside the Chicago Manual of Style or Associated Press Stylebook.

It doesn’t require you to engage in verbal battle over whether the Oxford comma is the keystone of modern writing — or not.

You don’t need to rewatch Schoolhouse Rock!’s “Conjunction Junction” episode either.

All you need is an eye for strengthening your writing — and a few cheats too.

1. Seek and destroy “to be” verbs.