Revising Your Own Writing: Part 2

by Barbara McNichol

This follows an earlier blog post, Revising Your Own Writing: Part 1, with hints for revising your own writing and strengthening it in the process.

Have you been practicing the tips from Part 1?

Let me know your experience as you apply these ideas to your own masterpieces.

• Write for the ear; always read what you’ve written out loud to make sure it sounds right. You’ll catch unintended repeated words more easily, too.
• “Ask myself” and “think to myself” are redundant. Consider using only the verb “ask” or “think.” In many cases, the “myself” part is unnecessary.
• Avoid long-winded sentences. I recommend no more than 21 words in a sentence; any longer and the meaning may be hard for readers to follow.
• Vary the length of your sentences. Variation keeps readers alert and adds spice to your writing. There’s strength (and punch) in brevity.
• In running text, spell out the name of a state or province. E.g., CO should be Colorado; SK should be Saskatchewan. For abbreviations of geographic places, periods are generally the accepted style. E.g., U.S. instead of US; D.C. for District of Columbia.