Stephen King: A successful writer, we can all agree. But pick up any one of his 1,000-page+ books and a question arises: "Is he a good editor?" The difference is distinct. Good writers are not necessarily good editors.
We like to think that graduate students arrive in our programs with an already decent grasp of writing. I realize this isn’t always the case, but I’m sure you’ve all come across students who write exceptionally well. What kind of lasting writing advice can we give them when they already understand organization, grammar, finding credible sources, and so on?
So this is when I like to emphasize editing over writing. No matter how strong a writer is, he or she can always become a better editor.
Often the differences between an original draft and an edited version are subtle, but important. Editing results in writing that is tighter, cleaner, and easier to read and comprehend.
The following is a list of editing techniques you can pass along to those strong writers in your classes. I learned most of these as a journalism student and relied upon them in my former job as a newspaper reporter and copy editor. But in academia, the emphasis on editing often gets lost. The truth is all academic writers can benefit from a crash course in how to improve their work through editing.
Cut 10 Percent
When I’ve taught journalism classes, one exercise I liked to incorporate was the 10-percent exercise. Reporters are bound by strict space limitations, so this exercise helps writers trim words and short phrases that don’t add to a story’s overall meaning. I spent many evenings on the copy desk cutting a story word-by-word in an attempt to make it fit a space.
When I’ve taught journalism classes, one exercise I liked to incorporate was the 10-percent exercise. Reporters are bound by strict space limitations, so this exercise helps writers trim words and short phrases that don’t add to a story’s overall meaning. I spent many evenings on the copy desk cutting a story word-by-word in an attempt to make it fit a space.
You can challenge students to reduce their drafts by 10 percent. This forces them to take a careful look at each sentence. Is every word working? Is every word contributing to a greater understanding? I’ve found that it’s fairly easy to cut at least one word from each sentence.
In all fairness to Stephen King, one of his mantras in his book On Writing is "2nd draft = 1st draft-10%." I would hate to lift one of his books where he doesn’t incorporate this rule!
In all fairness to Stephen King, one of his mantras in his book On Writing is "2nd draft = 1st draft-10%." I would hate to lift one of his books where he doesn’t incorporate this rule!
Adjectives and Adverbs
A world without adjectives and adverbs would be a bleak one indeed. But some writers use these parts of speech as a crutch. When they’re not used well, they become just fillers. Words such as "really" or "basically" or "very" or "extremely" are wishy-washy and vague.
A world without adjectives and adverbs would be a bleak one indeed. But some writers use these parts of speech as a crutch. When they’re not used well, they become just fillers. Words such as "really" or "basically" or "very" or "extremely" are wishy-washy and vague.
Watch for Key Passive Words
Have students do a search for words such as "were" "was" "had" and "been." Look for sentences that start with "it" or "there." These words signal passive voice, which is usually wordier than active voice.
Have students do a search for words such as "were" "was" "had" and "been." Look for sentences that start with "it" or "there." These words signal passive voice, which is usually wordier than active voice.
Take a look at this passive sentence:
"It was at the store where the grapes were bought by me." (12 words)
And now this active one:
"I bought grapes at the store." (6 words)
"I bought grapes at the store." (6 words)
That’s an exaggerated example, but even cutting one word or two in each sentence will help the paper flow.
Trim Wordy Phrases
In the academic world, it’s not uncommon to find bloated phrasing. I think students (and professionals) hold on to the myth that academic writing must be lofty and words must be multisyllabic. We’re in a position to bust that myth.
In the academic world, it’s not uncommon to find bloated phrasing. I think students (and professionals) hold on to the myth that academic writing must be lofty and words must be multisyllabic. We’re in a position to bust that myth.
Never use two or more words when one word will do. Here are examples of phrases that can be trimmed:
A lot = many (or much)
All of a sudden = suddenly
Give consideration to = consider
As a consequence of = because
Watch Those Helping Verbs
"Helping" verbs don’t help us to write tighter. Can we cut an "is" or "be" and rewrite the sentence? Can the active verb stand on its own?
"Helping" verbs don’t help us to write tighter. Can we cut an "is" or "be" and rewrite the sentence? Can the active verb stand on its own?
Example:
"He is hopeful that he passes the class."
"He is hopeful that he passes the class."
Can be changed to:
"He hopes he passes the class."
"He hopes he passes the class."
Get to the Point
In newspaper jargon, putting important information further down in the story is called "burying the lead." The same concept applies to academic papers. Students who spend a page or two getting to the main point are just "warming up." What’s the paper about? Who’s the audience? What do they need to know? Is that information included right away?
In newspaper jargon, putting important information further down in the story is called "burying the lead." The same concept applies to academic papers. Students who spend a page or two getting to the main point are just "warming up." What’s the paper about? Who’s the audience? What do they need to know? Is that information included right away?
Vary Sentence Structure
Of course, a paper full of simple sentences would read like a grade-school picture book. But a paper filled with a series of compound/complex sentences becomes difficult for a reader to digest and comprehend. A better approach is to vary sentence structure. Mix a few short sentences in with the long ones.
Of course, a paper full of simple sentences would read like a grade-school picture book. But a paper filled with a series of compound/complex sentences becomes difficult for a reader to digest and comprehend. A better approach is to vary sentence structure. Mix a few short sentences in with the long ones.
Incorporating these techniques will help your students improve and tighten their writing. Perhaps you can use them in your own professional writing. If Stephen King’s next novel is only 500 words, then we’ll know he used the tips, too!
Did you know...Rachael is writing a memoir about growing up as a gravedigger's daughter.
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