| There is a stigma associated with writers turning | | | | has done you a disservice. Spelling counts! |
| to editors for assistance with their work. Some | | | | · Grammar - Many people advise that |
| people see outside editing as an unfair advantage, | | | | you make sure what you write matches the way |
| a form of literary cheating. Writers are expected | | | | you speak. That will work if you speak correctly |
| to be able to objectively evaluate their own work. | | | | all the time. If not, you can easily review |
| Interestingly, this is exactly the opposite of what | | | | grammar lessons online at no cost if you need a |
| one finds in other professions. Witness the | | | | refresher. |
| famous phrase, " A doctor who treats himself | | | | · Punctuation - Make sure you put in all |
| has a fool for a patient." Let's not forget, " A | | | | the apostrophes and quotes necessary. Double |
| lawyer who represents herself has a fool for a | | | | check to make sure you ended interrogative |
| client." Writers are treated differently from these | | | | questions with question marks. It's easy to just |
| other professionals, though. Writers are somehow | | | | type a period at the end of all the sentences out |
| expected to turn in perfect drafts of novels, | | | | of habit. |
| articles, work reports, and term papers. Their | | | | · Typos - Blame the gremlin that hides in |
| work must be edited before it is turned in. | | | | your keyboard if you want to, but fix them |
| Anything less is considered unprofessional and | | | | anyway. Even though people will probably know |
| unacceptable. | | | | what you meant to type, don't make them guess. |
| Here's the twist in this story. Best-selling authors, | | | | · Clarity - When a writer knows what he |
| magazine writers, and newspaper columnists all | | | | is saying, he sometimes overlooks other possible |
| have editors! That's right, perfection is only | | | | interpretations. "The mother checked on the baby |
| required ahead of time from students, business | | | | while she was crying." Who was crying in that |
| people, and unknown writers. Those who have | | | | sentence? It could be either one of them. "All the |
| "arrived" suddenly benefit from editorial guidance | | | | tabloids had to say that the Hollywood couple filed |
| and second opinions on their work before it | | | | for divorce." Does that mean that there were |
| reaches its final audience. | | | | multiple tabloids and each and every one reported |
| What's wrong with this picture? What's a writer | | | | the same story or does that mean that there |
| who is still in school or hasn't yet been published | | | | were no other details available and the tabloids |
| to do? One option is to ignore the naysayers. Go | | | | simply had only that one fact to report? |
| right ahead and get help on writing projects | | | | · Consistency - Verify that whenever |
| before they are submitted. Ask a friend or a | | | | there are two or more acceptable forms of the |
| relative who has a firm grasp of grammar and | | | | same word, the same form should be used every |
| writes well if he or she will edit or at least | | | | time throughout the piece. Examples to watch for |
| proofread your work. If nobody in your | | | | are TV/television and USA/U.S.A/US of A. |
| immediate social circle qualifies, there are many | | | | · Organization - Make sure your thoughts |
| people and companies offering proofreading and | | | | flow logically and each idea builds upon the one |
| editing services. If time and budget allow, take | | | | before it. You can't make your point if nobody |
| advantage of them. | | | | can find it! |
| What about when circumstances force a writer | | | | · Word usage - All forms of |
| to tough it out alone before turning in the work? | | | | communication should fit their audiences. The way |
| If you're forced to take written matters into your | | | | a person expresses herself at a Super Bowl party |
| own hands, here are the things to look for while | | | | should be different than in a formal written report |
| acting as your own editor. | | | | to her boss. |
| · Spelling - Run spell check, but don't rely | | | | Scanning your work projects or term papers for |
| on it exclusively. Look up words if you are unsure | | | | these different areas will not only improve the |
| about them, even if the software approves them. | | | | particular assignment on which you're working, the |
| Never think, "That's close enough," or "They won't | | | | process sets your brain on the right path for |
| notice," or "A few spelling mistakes are | | | | future writing projects as well. Maybe your |
| acceptable." If you've been the victim of an | | | | readers will be saying, "A writer who has himself |
| educational class or system that told you that | | | | for an editor just may be on to something. |
| spelling doesn't count, then whoever told you that | | | | |