How Do You Learn To Edit

Editing is a practiced art, there is no quick and easy way to learn how to do it. Without a solid grasp on the written language, you’ll go nowhere fast. Which is why the first step to learning how to edit is understanding the written language. With a talent for context clues, understanding the written language came a lot easier to me than it will for others, and there’s nothing wrong with that. 

One thing I did for a long time, and still do on occasion to help me, is create a self glossary. Whenever I come across a word that I don’t understand, I would take note mentally or on paper and learn the definition. But knowing the definition of a word isn’t enough. You need to understand what the word means and be able to use it correctly. This is where a lot of beginning writers and editors make a mistake, and that’s okay. The only way to get better at anything is to learn from your mistakes. 

Note to remember: Editing and writing go hand in hand, the knowledge is the same. The difference between the two is the roles they play in the text itself. A writer is the creator, the one who makes everything come to life. The editor is the overseer, the one who makes everything work. 

The next step is vital for both an editor and a writer to know is how a story works. I won’t go into depth about this because any and every book on writing goes into it. What I will say is the biggest thing to remember about how a story works is that it must make sense. Every aspect from a character’s decision to plot must be a natural happening. A character isn’t going to do something drastic without a reason. A conflict doesn’t occur just because. Cause and effect is the driving force for everything.