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Write It Right: The Ground Rules for Self-Editing Like the Pros

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Whether just an article or an entire novel most of us need to edit our work to give it that professional finish. This book is not a grammar book with all those rules on how to make your work syntactically correct. Instead it takes a larger view and supplies the basics of writing well. For example the "ground rules" include checking to make sure the story is organized well and and checking that paragraphs have a topic sentence that the rest of the paragraph relates to. For each of the ground rules the authors discuss how to check your work to see that it conforms to the rules and how to change it so it does.

The section starting on page 33 is a welcome change from most writing books. The authors suggest that you should identify areas where you have problems and include them on a check list of editing problems to watch for. But, how do you know your problem areas if you don't see the problem? This section gives several examples of sentences with various problems. Find the ones where you don't see a problem, go to the answers section that explains the problem and you have your short list of items to learn about and watch for in your work.

For the person looking to raise their writing quality to a higher level of professionalism Write It Right is a recommended read.

As the second book in the Ground Rules series, Write It Right continues the solid, succinct advice presented in its predecessor, Putting It On Paper. Dawn Josephson is joined this time around by Lauren Hidden, and, together, they walk you through all the whys and hows of self-editing your writing to make it as good as it can be.

Josephson and Hidden understand that there's more to self editing than the mechanics. Many writers will have a hard time accepting the idea that self-editing is something they should even be doing. We all make mistakes in our writing. Even editors make mistakes.

If you're still not convinced once you've read the Introduction--which includes "The Case for Self-Editing"--I urge you to keep reading anyway. You won't be sorry.

For such a slim volume--as the Ground Rules series tends to be--this book is jam-packed with useful exercises to help you identify and correct your writing weaknesses.

And don't overlook the many appendices at the back. These pages constitute a big chunk of pages overall and could be the most valuable part of the whole book. "How To Sabotage Your Self-Editing Efforts" and "The Ground Rules of [Grammar] and Usage" are especially useful.

My one real quibble with the process promoted and taught in Write It Right is that it seems more practical when applied to shorter works. I cannot imagine undergoing the same lengthy process for a book-length manuscript. How many times can you reread your manuscript before the words blur and you see what you want or expect to see?

Also, while I don't doubt the lessons could be applied readily to creative writing, the focus here seems to be on non-fiction, specifically business writing. That distinction might deter some writers from giving this book a try.

In general, I think Write It Right deserves a spot on every writer's bookshelf. You don't just read this book. You open yourself up to a learning experience taught as much by you as by the authors.

"But isn't editing the editor's job?"

The authors say, "Yes and no." They explain the editor's purpose is to polish the work and not rewrite your work. The writer looks good in the editor's eyes when turning in an "almost finished product." Not only do you make the editor's work easier when rechecking your product, but also it earns you a better reputation.

Writers aren't the only ones who benefit from Write It Right. The College Board's National Commission on Writing conducted a study that concluded a third of employees in America's blue-chip companies wrote poorly and businesses were spending up to $3.1 billion per year on remedial training (2004). Newspapers like the New York Times published the statistics from the report to show the gravity of the situation in the U.S.

The five chapters in the book make up the five steps for self-editing. Each chapter ends with "Questions for Self-Reflection" to help readers determine what areas need working on, so they focus on those while self-editing. The first chapter ends with a grammar quiz, which is the book's paradox. It has two errors. One question misses a word that appears in the answer and another has a typo.

While following the five step process feels lengthy, the authors include advice on what to do when in a hurry. Writers can judge how much to review their work and adjust the process as needed.

The basic advice consists mostly of common sense, the things we learned in school or through experience. However, the book shows how to find your weak areas and work with them. The authors do an impressive job covering all the bases in this small book by tackling the editing process, giving a handful of grammar tips, and providing checklists. It takes less than an hour to read straight through without completing the suggested activities.

This little guide has a good chance of coming in handy rather than sitting on a bookshelf never to see the light of day. The easy-to-scan format, checklist templates, short list of rules, and examples increase the probability of the reader using it.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends WRITE IT RIGHT as one of the cheapest ways to groom your own writing, & worth every penny. You'll be referring to it often, if you want to learn how to cut the blubber & errors from your words & polish them until they're lean, clean & shining!

The Dedication is the kernel of all these two writers have to teach. Read it & cringe, & then start the Introduction.

In 5 simple steps, WRITE IT RIGHT, with contextual references to preparing for a relay race, takes you from Knowing Your Problems to A Picture Perfect Finish, including FAQ.

too much wasted filler added that could have been used to elaborate on additonal editing topics. For example, 13 blank pages, 7 pages of redundant self-promoting, 5 title pages with cartoon images introducing self-reflection questions, and about 12 unnecessary pages of FAQs &/or self-reflection question blank journal pages. All in all, about 37 wasted pages for a book that just boasts a total of 141 pages. That was my major pet-peeve. My only other minor peeves would be that the authors could have elaborated some more on the "Grammar Tips" section, as well as include more "Test Questions" to evaluate your needed area of improvement, along with more elaboration and additional usage tips.

Unfortunately, this book is out of print, thus I do not anticipate a 2nd edition in the near future according to one of the authors who was kind enough to email me back.

The great thing about this book is how it focuses your attention on your area of weaknesses via self-tests then incorporating those specific areas into your own personalized self-edit list. This is definately a much needed guide & approach for all beginner writers. Very hands on & user friendly! Hopefully the authors will reconsider and republish with an update!! Thx.

Write It Right: The Ground Rules For Self-Editing Like The Pros is a volume with 127 text pages. The work is, separated into Acknowledgments, Introduction, Five steps to better writing/editing, Appendices, Epilogue and Index.

Write It Right, The Ground Rules for Self-Editing Like the Pros is the creation of women entrepreneurs Dawn Josephson and Lauren Hidden. The steps for writing and editing work are offered as five uncomplicated segments.

Packed with examples and frequently asked questions along with hints, handwritten marginal notes, and graphs the divisions are arranged so that readers can effortlessly read one particular section during a break, while waiting at the dentist or when working on a specific document at the office.

Step one is the Warm Up Search for the Occurrence of similar Writing challenges. One key point discussed is the fact that knowing what your problems are constitutes half the battle seems a bit obvious, however it is something that is often overlooked.

Step two Approach the Starting Line Prepare to Edit is especially helpful as it guides the reader toward thinking as would an editor and not like a writer. Ground rules for editing include proposals for construction of a personalized editing checklist, ideas for how to go about scheduling time for the editing phase, detaching from the work, as well as how to go about working on a hard copy. The writers suggest that if as a writer you're too attached to your work, you'll never edit it successfully.

Step three Run the Race The Editing Process Begins offers workable suggestions for setting the course for triumph including putting forth the view that the more you're able to center your thinking and your writing; the better your editing experience will be.

Step four Hand Off The Baton and Let the Relay Begin puts in place the awareness that an assortment of surveys document that 70 to 80% of professionals write their materials collaboratively; meaning as writers they get contribution from others to assure that their finished writing product comes across both competently and as it should be. Having a trusted colleague read the work in progress offers another slant and awareness for how the writing may be received by the public at large.

Step five A Picture Perfect Finish The Final Stretch guides the reader toward crossing the finish line of editing with a well edited manuscript ready for printing in hand.

What to do when you are pressed for time is addressed in Appendix A.

Appendix B lists How to Sabotage your Self Editing Efforts while Ground Rules of Grammar and Usage are found in Appendix C. Grammar is the oil that causes work to flow smoothly creating easy reading, and grammar does matter to editors and readers alike. Appendix D contains a number of useful Forms and Checklists.

Write It Right, The Ground Rules for Self-Editing Like the Pros is an effortlessly read volume certain to develop into a important tool for all writers who look forward to improving their writing whether it be articles, essays and books or letters, reports, or news articles. Above all I like the design with problems to solve and detailed answers telling how and why particular sentences needed correction.

The easily read, brisk method of presentation will hold appeal to those who are bored to tears with academia type grammar texts. The five chapters encompassing Write It Right, The Ground Rules for Self-Editing Like the Pros offer the authors' thoughts regarding successful self-editing.

'Questions for Self-Reflection' included at the end of chapters are added to aid writers toward realizing the areas in their writing which need more work. The focus of Write It Right, The Ground Rules for Self-Editing Like the Pros is self-editing.... Aspiring writers should not rely on publishers or others to do editing for them.

The work can be quickly read as a whole. Serious writers will want to keep the book on their desk for use when that novel or other manuscript is ready for rewrite. Write It Right, The Ground Rules for Self-Editing Like the Pros is a noteworthy addition to the writer library shelf, home library and home school library for students to use for improving writing skills. On the whole I found the work to include many useful tips and valuable writing information, happy to recommend.

Molly Martin

Reviewer