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Editing Is Writing
• Great editing transforms a work
Writing a manuscript is only the start of a long and sometimes difficult process. Many writers deny the need for editing and rewriting, but rarely is a work what it can be when the first draft is completed. Editing is part of the writing process, not a separate task. Seemingly minor changes made during editing might improve a work substantially.
Editing is not boring, if you consider it a chance to learn. Checking facts brings out the detective in a writer or editor. Writers and editors should love learning, since the idea of writing is to educate — even while entertaining.
Editing Topics
Reference guides on the Tameri site address the following topics:
Grammar |
Spelling and Usage |
Sentences and Punctuation |
Composition and Other Topics |
Who Should Edit?
It seems like a simple question: who should edit a work? The obvious answer is the author or authors, which is correct — for the first or second draft of a work. However, we strongly encourage any writer to handoff editing duties to another individual after the writer is comfortable with the manuscript.
There are several reasons to have another person edit your works:
- Writers tend to miss “obvious” spelling and grammar errors.
- Another person might detect confusing passages that are clear to the writer.
- Editors are often experts in certain areas, catching technical and historical errors.
Citations
Any citation referring to the Tameri Guide for Writers site must name both editors.
- APA:
- Schnelbach, S. and Wyatt, C. ( 17 February, 2012 ). Tameri Guide for Writers. [Online]. Available WWW: http://www.tameri.com
- MLA:
- Schnelbach, S. and Wyatt, C. “Tameri Guide for Writers.” 17 February, 2012 . Online. Internet. [Date Printed]. Available WWW: http://www.tameri.com