Tag Archives: editing
Let’s Return to Direct Lead Paragraphs
A Wandering Lead and Three Revisions Writers must compose direct lead paragraphs or risk losing readers. A wandering opening finds readers lost, wandering somewhere else. A direct opening can’t guarantee that a reader will continue but a clear, direct path … Continue reading
Revised Post on Revising
NB: I wrote this post last year and titled it “More on Revising.” (internal link) I noticed tonight that it needed more work so I have revised this post on revising. Argh. Editing never ends. More on Revising — Updated … Continue reading
Not Only
Not Only “Not only” is a phrase which brings negativity to a piece and prevents you from directly and quickly stating your position. Original: Not only is ice cream tastier than sherbet but it appeals to more people. Revised Ice … Continue reading
Fighting Wordiness
I once revised copy for a painter’s home page. The original text was only 250 words or so. These changes were the most important. It’s not just about reducing word count but making text more direct and impactful. Fighting wordiness … Continue reading
Posted in editing writing, non-fiction writing, organizing writing, revising writing
Tagged copy, editing, text, writing
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Shun “tion”
Slow and Soft Notice how slow and soft these “tion” words are compared to their more active counterparts: division, dividing multiplication, multiplying addition, adding revision, revising motivation, motivating contention, contending summation, summary Shunning “tion” in Practice “tion” deadens writing I … Continue reading
Revising, Style, and Time – Revised
Revising, Style and Time Excellent writing takes time which you may not have. Tighter writing is better writing by making reading and understanding easier. That writing, though, takes time and alters the style of a piece. In revising other people’s … Continue reading
10 Minutes of a Writer’s Observations
Proofreading, comprehension, the value of the right translation, and who to read on Zen. ROUGH TRANSCRIPT OK, 10 minutes of a writer’s observations, my perspective. If you are writing something that is particularly critical, like in the law or good … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged comprehension, editing, font, proofing, readability, type, writing
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My 1,000th Post
This is my 1,000th post at this site. Posting began here in 2013. I have been writing on the internet since mid-1994 and before that in walled gardens like Compuserve as well as bulletin boards before that. I did quite … Continue reading
Posted in editing writing, free speech, Uncategorized
Tagged blogging, editing, reading, writing
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We The Few . . .
We The Few . . . I found an interesting web page with its content below, as various people phrase a common thought in various ways. Here’s the thought: “I’ve done so much, with so little, for so long, that … Continue reading
Posted in Thoughts on writing, Uncategorized, Writing tips
Tagged editing, revising, summarizing, writing, writing style
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Amen and Awoman?!
Monday, January 4, 2021 “When I use a word,”Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘It means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.” In the news this morning: “Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., altered … Continue reading