The Content Engine – from Kim Funk Creative

One does not simply sit at a keyboard and type a Pulizer Prize winning piece. From the first click of your fingers on the keyboard to the moment you hit publish, the steps you take along the way make a difference between a great piece and one that’s just, meh.

A good story starts with a solid first draft. But editing gets eyeballs on your work. Editing keeps people reading. And editing gives your story sharability. Here are five editing hacks to bring your writing to the next level.

1. Take a break. Like I was talking about last week, coming back to your work after taking a break gives you fresh perspective. Write your masterpiece and leave it. If you can, leave it for at least a day. Plan your content so you can do this. You’ll thank me.
2. Read your first draft (and every subsequent draft) out loud. Do this before every round of edits. As you read, analyze. Does your writing sound like your speaking? Does it make sense? Does it flow in a natural way? Reading out loud helps you decide what to keep and what to cut.
3. Use active voice. Use action verbs. Show don’t tell. The best writing leads you down a path where you see, hear, taste, smell and feel what’s happening in the story. No matter what the story is about. Rework every sentence to active voice.
4. Use simple language. Ok. Wait. I know, you’re thinking. But you just told me to use all the verbs! Yes I did. But you also want to make sure your audience understands the verbs. You write for the pleasure of writing – but if you don’t keep your audience in mind, you’ll lose them before they get past the first paragraph. You keep them hooked by using simple language – even if you’re writing about the most complicated business ever.
5. Move things around. Each piece you write should have one core message. Does the way you’re telling that message make sense to the reader? You can reshape and reframe your story by moving pieces around. Maybe your conclusion is stronger than your intro – so you decide to flip them. Try putting paragraph two after paragraph three and see what happens. This is my favorite part – working the piece like a puzzle. Shaping it and giving it strength. The result? A more compelling piece.

Rinse and repeat.

Great writers know great work goes through several rounds of edits before it reaches publication. Make sure you plan your content to allow time for the editing rounds. Because when you do them well, you’ll deliver great content more consistently.

But seriously, if you’re running a business, you probably don’t have time for all of this. Here’s where Kim Funk Creative comes in. We write and edit all day – so you don’t have to. Reach out and let’s build a content plan together.