I think it’s a very good thing to save the original document, make your changes and show the writer your alterations back-to-back.

If you have time to demonstrate why you made your edits, the writer can see quite clearly how the newly corrected piece makes more sense, flows better, and gives the reader something clear and concise.

Unless you suck as an editor, of course. But we’ll assume that’s not the case. Whenever you have time to mentor your writers, do it. The rewards are not far off.

When you will be the only person to edit a piece before it goes to its final destination, you have to make sure you can catch any mistakes. Self-editing can be a difficult task, and if you want to do it well there is no substitute for reading out loud.

Reading aloud makes you look at your words a bit differently, and if you edit this way you can find mistakes or passages that just don’t flow well more easily than if you just read the words. Try this tip–it might be a simple one, but it works!

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that any first draft is something that you should turn in. A well-known writing professor once said, ”The only writing is re-writing,” and those are words of wisdom that should be followed. Any piece can be improved with another careful look. I’ve heard of writers who don’t do it, but I guarantee that when they turn in the piece, the editor wishes that they would have. Take a few minutes and go through your work again once it  is written. You might catch something vital.