One of the difficulties a writer faces is revising his work in an attempt to locate all the errors. In general, there are two forces working against a writer trying to ensure that his work is error-free.
1. Being too close to work makes it difficult for you to concentrate on your writing.
2. You know what you want to say, so you may read the errors simply because your mind only sees your impression of the article.
To be effective at reviewing your own material, you must work hard to read every word…
Refuse to speed up simply because you know what the writing says.
Consider each word, then each sentence, and then the context of the thought.
Does the article flow or are there sentences that bog it down?
Check punctuation and grammar.
Look at the title and make sure it is correct.
Do the above again.
Most of the time, the personal best test requires multiple readings and continuous editing. The key to the whole process is discipline, personal and professional discipline.
Check and double check the facts in your story and, when possible, allow another set of eyes to proofread your writing. They are likely to see things you missed.
There is another myth that is closely linked to revision and it is the myth of the perfect story. Anything we write will have a shelf life because styles and accepted practices change or we’ve missed something in the realm of consistency, grammar, spelling, or word usage.
If we keep a piece of writing under lock and key until we think it’s perfect, the article will probably never get published. You can go through your article with a fine-tooth comb and chances are you’ll see some mistakes when it’s finally published.
Writing should be taken seriously, but not so seriously that the stress of creating words takes away the joy that made you become a writer in the first place.
The best advice may be to simply write your story first and worry about fixing any problems later. If you stop writing in the middle of your story to correct trouble spots, you will likely lose the spontaneity of the story. Ultimately, this can have a detrimental effect on the consumer’s overall reading satisfaction.
If you have to be a perfectionist, wait until the story is complete and then get out your red pen and make some edits.