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...

I was invited to write a guest blog for Anne Wayman of About Freelance Writing and am thrilled that my blog post is live today. Check it out here . It was a pleasure to work with Anne and write this post for her blog. It's all about how I started my online editing business and the unique things that led up to it and the launch of my editing website - editmaster.pro . A big thank you to Anne Wayman for the invitation! Happy Writing!

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....

Bloggers! STOP right there! Do not publish your next blog post without having it edited ! Over the past few months, I've noticed some blatant errors in some blogs I read. Those errors include: A February blog post from a direct seller which featured and highlighted January's specials. Too many run-on sentences to list. Too many uses of the same adjective: This is a gorgeous set that will add a gorgeous touch to your already gorgeous home. That and that and that and that and that.....using that too many times. "That" can be eliminated 99% of the time. A sentence like this: "You could of used one of these organizers..." which should read,  "You could have used one of these organizers..."  The list could go on, but you get the idea. Don't let this happen to your blog or newsletter! Hire an editor before publishing that next blog post or sending your next newsletter. Fiverr is a great place to start. W...

You need an editor, even for the smallest communications going out to the public. Whether you are advertising eye exams or cavity protection, a unique product or a much-needed service, your advertising needs editing. Take this picture for example: Had this company had an editor, it's highly unlikely they would have spent the money on a poster such as this. Do you see the problem? Editors find these problems and fix them before they go to print. Don't be caught without an editor. You may end up offering services you cannot and don't want to fulfill. ~Tricia

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

Today, I'm reviewing a book for you and making the suggestion that you buy it. This book, Rainbows in the Storms , is by a friend of mine and it's the poignant story of a young wife and mother of four who faces the terminal illness and subsequent death of her beloved husband and father of her children. The author, Ann Asprey Erdmann, tells how each and every step of his illness affected her and their family as they journeyed through the storms that rolled over them again and again. I was privileged to be one of her first editors and, let me tell you, this young woman is the real deal. Any time I told her that the message of God's power in seeing them through was not coming out in her writing, she was willing to change it up until it told the story right. The story is heart-wrenching, yet filled with hope. This hope is only found through God and His saving grace through Jesus Christ. That is the author's clear message and clearly the message of her husband, even as h...

I read a few blogs regularly and those blogs often introduce me to new blogs. Today, a Facebook post led me to a fashion blog and it looked interesting and informative enough to click on. Fashion is important, to a point - the point where I don't go around looking like an idiot or dressing too young, etc. That can be challenging, though, since clothes in the junior department fit me best. It's not always convenient to be short. The fashion blog held a lot of useful information, but this young blogger desperately needs an editor. We can certainly look past a few typos, but this gal had no clue how to use the English language. She needs an editor. We all need an editor. I can't tell you how many times I've written a blog post, reread it several times, posted it, then came back and found typos or other errors! It happens to everyone. I'm not just irritated at poor, unedited writing. I'm also frustrated for the writer because, in the long run, it will affect ...

Revision is a necessary tool for successful writing. We write, we edit, we revise. Then, we revise again. And again. And again. Sometimes, our content needs less revision than our title, however. This was the case with my new e-book, Writing for Publication .  I wrote, edited, revised, had an outside editor look at it, revised again, rewrote part of it and updated other parts. After all that was done, I created a title page, using my own photography as I always do on my e-books, and uploaded the project to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing . I waited a couple of days, then did a search for my e-book. Clicking through to page five in the list of books on writing, mine simply did not show up. I gave it another day. Nothing. My e-book still did not show up in any searches! So, I had to rethink my project and revise once again.  This time, revision involved my title and book cover. I spent a little time searching for writing e-books and made notes on what was showing up in sea...

I t's a well-known fact that no one can fully edit their own work.  As I teach writing and advise my students, I always recommend hiring an independent editor, especially if not working with a publishing house.  Many of my students have chosen e-publishing and independent editors are a must for any e-publisher.   But, many people avoid hiring independent editors due to the cost involved. Their work, along with their credibility as a writer, suffers as a result. PAY ATTENTION But, there are some ways you can save money on editing.  The number one way is to pay attention to your word processor.  Modern word processing programs all have built-in grammar and spelling alerts. Paying attention to them and using them will save you money on editing costs.  Why pay an editor to do what a word processor will do automatically?  All you have to do is pay attention.  For example, when Word puts a green squiggly line under a word or sentence, pay attentio...

I must say, my writing students are so creative, so motivated, so energetic and so eager to learn and practice their writing skills that I am totally inspired by them!  As a matter of fact, I'm so inspired that I'm starting a blog completely dedicated to writing.  You might wonder why I've not done that before and I would wonder the same thing.  Why haven't I done this before?  All I can say is, I'm doing it now. Thank you to my students! What inspires you as a writer?  Does routine inspire you, knowing your time is predictable and dependable? Or are you inspired by a whimsical thought that you just have to write down?  Are you a creative writer or a writer of facts?  It doesn't matter what kind of writer you are, as long as you're writing.  Some people I know are actually inspired by editing and revising their work.  Others just like to get it written, then hire someone else to edit and revise.  What's your style? Speaking of edit...