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A rough draft is not the end of the process; it’s just the beginning! Now, the real work begins.
When you have a rough draft in hand and it’s time to start editing, the key is to be forgiving with yourself (if you’re self-editing) or the writer and not judge the work too soon (after all, just the first version).
Whether you’re the writer or the editor, here are some steps to take to make the process go smoothly, so that you can effectively prepare your rough draft for publication.
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If you’ve just spent hours working on an article or paper, you’re probably a little burnt out and tired. Now is not the time to start editing. Allow yourself some time to take a break.
Be it an hour or a day, the time will clear your head and may even change your perspective. That way, you’ll be able to be more objective when you sit down to edit your rough draft.
Before you jump into editing, ensure the copy is not duplicated. You also want to check if any of the copy is AI-generated.
Both AI and plagiarism have a number of issues.
For instance, AI text may sound stilted and is often repetitive, lacking nuance (but is often hard for humans to identify). Beyond the generic nature of AI copy, AI text can also cause several issues, including AI hallucinations, Google Penalties, and impact Google Search Quality Ratings.
Then, plagiarism has a number of consequences, including potential copyright issues and duplicate content, which can impact SEO.
The best way to discover AI and plagiarism is to use the industry-leading Originality.ai AI Checker and Plagiarism Checker.
Regardless of whether you’re the editor or writer, read the entire document. Don’t worry about grammar or misspelled words (yet). You want to see the overall picture.
Write notes concerning areas where the article is unclear.
Then, categorize these issues. Issues could be too generalized or sometimes too specific, depending on the article’s goal.
Look for overall flow and note the article’s readability for the user.
Does the article take the reader down a clear path to its conclusion? Will this article answer their questions? Ensure the overall point is clear from the perspective of the intended audience.
Then, check that the article also matches the intent of the title. If it goes off-topic, this is a major issue that should be corrected and revised.
In some cases, the overall article could be on topic, but a paragraph here or there may miss the mark. Make a note to address this later.
Once you’ve read it through, read it again.
After looking at the big picture now, it’s time to address any of the major problems you flagged in your editorial notes.
Whether you’re the writer or editor, run through this quick checklist:
Why? The user must know exactly what they’re going to read.
Each point made should be clearly supported with evidence, so that the overall article is not only compelling but also logical and factually correct.
Then, don’t forget that if it has a call to action (like signing up, learning more about a product, etc.), to ensure it’s apparent and easy for customers or users to find.
So what happens if, as you’re reviewing the piece, it just doesn’t mesh with the established goals in your checklist?
At this point, you need to identify the underlying reasons. The same holds true if you’re the writer or the editor.
By identifying the problem’s origin, you can efficiently and effectively address the problem.
Example: If the article isn’t clear or is vague, the research may be too weak, or in some cases, the topic may be too broad. If it’s a research problem, dig deeper and try to fill in the information gaps. If the subject is too broad, tighten it up more.
Once you’ve addressed all the major problems, start at the beginning and edit at a closer level (this is also referred to as line editing).
When you’re done with this step, sentences should be clear, readable, and engaging.
This is a crucial step; it’s time to check the grammar and spelling. Look for typos and double-check that every sentence and phrase is clear and concise.
You also want to ensure that the article has a consistent voice from beginning to end. This is the final review for tone, organization, and formatting.
If you have a rough draft of your article, book, or blog post, congratulations! You’ve taken the first step. Now, as a quick review:
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Then, discover more editing and writing best practices:
