When I started my professional editing services a few years ago, I never turned down a job. I found out the hard way that this wasn't a good long-term strategy. After working on anything and everything that came my way and never turning down a job, I realized some jobs held more stress and problems than they were worth. So, here's a brief list of jobs I turn down most of the time.  1. Most rush jobs. I do take a few rush jobs if they are reasonable. I did one just last week, in fact, but the buyer was reasonable and simply wanted a 500 word document edited within 8 hours. That was reasonable and it was a good experience. But, some rush jobs aren't worth it to me. When someone wanted a 1,400 word document done within the next 3 hours, but it was dinner time at my house, I turned them down because I didn't want to rush through dinner.  I don't work between 5 and 8 PM, so if someone needs work during that time, I turn them down every time. Family comes f...

Editing hurts. Yes. It hurts when someone cuts your words, rearranges your sentences, deletes your creative use of language, etc. It hurts. The first thing a writer has to do is leave their ego at the door. Most writers write with passion and passion doesn't always reflect good grammar or proper use of punctuation. I recently edited for the CEO of a large corporation. She was taken aback by my edits and questioned if she wanted someone cutting her writing up like I did. But, while she might be a great CEO, her grammar, word choices and sentence structure were lacking. Most people, when writing with passion, give little thought to how their words are put together. The words spill out with feeling while grammar is laid aside. And that's ok. That's actually how it should be. We should write with passion.....then hire a good editor to make our points flow well and be cohesive. We editors make your passion shine by clothing your writing in easy-to-read prose with good ...

That. It's nearly an enemy to an editor. When we talk, we use "that" as a transition word to help us keep our thoughts flowing while we talk. It gives us a chance to pause and think while we are speaking. "That" keeps a listener engaged because it lends anticipation to our speech, whether used in a conversation or a formal speech. It's true for any level of speech and perfectly acceptable. The opposite is true when writing. "That" is by far the word I delete most often. It's totally unnecessary in most writings and should be eliminated 90% of the time. The remaining 10% tells you it shouldn't be completely eliminated from all writings. Using it sparingly is key. Here's a relevant example. In the sentence above, I said,  "The remaining 10% tells you it shouldn't be completely eliminated from all writings."  The vast majority of people would write,  "The remaining 10% tells you that it shouldn't...

I often say everyone needs an editor. I thought I would elaborate on this idea for a few minutes. Needing an editor does not make you an idiot. Admitting you need an editor sets you apart. I can't tell you how many blog posts and articles I've read that needed editing. For me, it's rather distracting. I've come up with a few reasons editing is so necessary. 1. When we write, we are spelling out our passion. Whether it's a lifestyle blog or instructions on how to cook crickets, writers write with passion and passion often disregards grammar. Perhaps one could argue that the more mistakes you make while writing, the more passionate you are about your topic. 2. We often write how we think or talk. One universal thing I teach my writing students is not to write how they talk unless they are writing a novel with that required dialog. A common mistake I see on this one is, "I could of gone to town," which should read, "I could have gone to town....

I'm not only a writer, I am also a professional editor. As an editor, I often warn my clients about my frequent brutality when it comes to editing their work. I tell them they can't take it personally when I turn their lovingly slaved-over documents into marked-up-with-red, messy works that need fixing. But, I do it all in their best interest. I do it for them so they don't publish something that makes them look like an idiot. The public isn't very forgiving when it comes to bad writing. People just move on and don't read bad writing. I read this article today on The Writer's Circle and I find this to be solid, good advice. I use all these filters, and more, when I write and when I edit. I like all the points in this article and they would be helpful for any writer. Enjoy! For the love of writing on this Valentine's Day, ~Tricia

I have decided I really like editing. I recently joined Fiverr , offering quick editing for a penny a word. As the jobs started rolling in, I found that I was really enjoying editing and I figured out why. Editing gives me free reign to correct all the wrongs. I've mentally corrected people's emails, blogs, Facebook posts, church bulletins, signs on the highway, ads in stores, etc., yet I've never had the power to do anything about those wrongs. Editing jobs are different. It's my JOB to correct the wrongs. I have found editing to be very satisfying and gratifying. I love fixing what's wrong and delivering a better product in the end. Every writer needs an editor, whether they realize it or not. Fiverr is a quick, affordable way to get small editing jobs done for a fraction of what you'd pay elsewhere. I highly recommend editing for anyone who writes anything the public will see. Fiverr can be your go-to resource. Happy Writing! ~Tricia