Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

February 26, 2006

Editing for Quality and a Content Editor’s Checklist

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:38 am

It’s true that every writer needs an editor. We all know that I sure do. In textbook publishing, we say that every writer really needs two–a content editor and a copyeditor. The first makes sure the that the logic and ideas make sense. The second makes sure that the work is readable. Readable doesn’t mean much, if the ideas are all over the place.

Content editing doesn’t need to take bundles of time. You’ve gotten the ideas onto the paper. Print the post out and read it. A pause for a content edit makes sure that your information is accurate and accessible. Why not make sure your ideas move in a way that readers can follow them? It can only make you look smarter.

For that purpose, I offer you this basic content editing checklist.

Content Editor’s Checklist

Use these few points to content edit. Then move on to copyediting.—making sure that the spelling, grammar, and punctuation are correct. Do the two separately. Trying to do both at once is like trying to have dinner with two dates at two different restaurants–not a good idea.

Use the checklist and you’ll be that much more confident that your reader won’t get lost looking for the forest among the trees. Now whether they’ll agree with you . . .

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles:
Blog Review Checklist
Blog Design Checklist
Checklist for Linking to Quality Blogs
A Blogger’s Personal Narrative Checklist





Filed under Checklists, Content, Successful Blog, Writing |




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6 Comments to “Editing for Quality and a Content Editor’s Checklist”

  1. February 26th, 2006 at 10:53 pm
    Speed Linking - 27 Feb 2006: ProBlogger Blog Tips said

    [...] Me Strauss writes Editing for Quality and a Content Edditor’s Checklist [...]

  2. September 15th, 2006 at 7:08 pm
    Successful Blog - 6+1: How-to Blogging — Stomp Out Swiss Cheese Knowledge said

    [...] Related articles A Blogger’s Personal Narrative Checklist Editing for Quality and a Content Editor’s Checklist 6+1, 2, 3: Save Me from Beginners & Experts NOW! [...]

  3. July 10th, 2007 at 8:59 am
    12 Detailed Checklists to Spit Shine and Promote Your Blog - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

    [...] Editing for Quality and a Content Editor’s Checklist [...]

  4. July 11th, 2007 at 9:22 am
    12条 Checklists 提升你的博客质量 at 行云流水 | Yorick’s Blog said

    [...] 提升内容品质需注意的问题 [...]

  5. May 14th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
    Mikhail Weiss said

    The first makes sure the that the logic and ideas make sense.
    ——————————
    Oops. Copy editing mistake above. Extra “the” before “that” needs to go bye-bye. Nice ideas, though. Neat-o.

  6. January 25th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
    akuhdiah said

    Nice tips for me. I hope I could improve my writing soon

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