Copy Editing How-To: 5 Simple Guidelines, Done In 15 Minutes

Do you write or blog to kill time? If so, you can skip this post. Want to become an amazing article editor and still have time for the rest of your life? Read on.

Are you editing what someone else wrote? You’ll need to learn how to win friends and influence people.

If you need to be your own critic and edit your own copy, never fear: I have just the thing you need. Meet my little friend, the CRAFT system:

1. C(ount)
2. R(ate)
3. A(xe)
4. F(ix)
5. T(ease)

It’s a tried and true method used for ages by blogging, magazine and book editing pro’s. I just put a fancy hat on it to help you remember the steps.

Count

Number your paragraphs in reverse. The last paragraph in your article is number 1. The previous paragraph is number 2. You get the idea. Why in reverse? You won’t be biased by the previous paragraph and the way we normally read. We must judge each paragraph on its own.

Rate

Rate each paragraph from 1 to 10. One being absolute trash. Ten being the most profound and beautiful statement of all history. Don’t think through this, just make a quick opinion. Write your ranking/rating number beside your paragraph number.

Axe

Axe the fluff. Trim the fat. If your rated your paragraph as a 3 or less, get rid of it. Can your article get by without the paragraph? Delete it.

Fix

Fix each paragraph remaining. Fix your grammar and spelling. Did your paragraph rank as a 5? Rewrite it and aim for a 6. Make you 6’s into 7’s, etc.

• * Tighten your writing up
• * Make it simple
• * Get rid of any excess
• * Explain things readers won’t understand
• * Intensify the action
• * Make readers see, hear and feel your story
• * Start sentences with blockbuster words like “frightening” instead of something ho-hum like “the”
• * You want laser focus. Split your wandering thoughts into separate paragraphs

Tease

Tease your readers irresistibly into your article with your headline and opening paragraph. Leave them wanting more with your closing. Spend 5 minutes on the previous 4 steps. Unleash 10 minutes of creativity  on the last step here.

Headlines makes 99.999% of the difference when you want to be seen, so listen up. You want a headline that’s (1) popular, and (2) grabs your readers by the collar and pull them into your article. Let’s visit your two best friends in this department: Google Keyword Tool and Magazines.com. Store owners know their magazine headlines have this grabbing power. Why not put them to work?

Let’s look at today’s headline. First, I wanted to see what people are REALLY typing into Google when they want help with editing. It’s not about me. It’s all about you, my dear reader.

In the Keyword Tool, I typed in editing. Four million searches a month? I won’t delude myself with chasing after this word. Let’s scroll down a bit.

The only word I see in the list that applies here is copy edit. A modest 6000 searchers a month and much less competition. It’s kind of turned around though. People wouldn’t think this way. People search for “How to…” quite a bit. Sure enough how to edit copy gets about 590 searches a month, and NO competition.

Let’s go to Magazines.com. Sure enough, Money Magazine has “The 7 New Rules of Financial Security.” I only have 5 rules, so can we use “The 5 New Rules…”? Sure we can, but wait!

We want to impress Google too. Experts agree: Use your most-desired keyword “as close to the beginning of the opening sentence or two as possible.” Now that you know, you have no more excuses - start your articles with a bang!

Ninety percent of your remaining attention-getting power is in your opening paragraph. Here are some ways to make the most of it:

• * Open your writing file…You have one don’t you? If not, start one. Flip (or scroll) through the stories and quotes: you’re looking for something unusual, controversial, or even an experience others can relate to
• * Pose an example or striking fact/statistic
• * Use specific facts or details to summarize your subject
• * Emphasize cause and effect, compare/contrast, or explode a myth
• * Ask a question or use several questions to lead the reader to a conclusion
• * Above all, write something you absolutely believe in
• * Cut out weakness: don’t start with “It is…” or “There are…” or “I’ll describe…” or “I’ll talk about…” or “My purpose is…”
• * Don’t begin with a series of truisms

However…

Here’s a huge psychological secret: when you talk, start with two super-obvious facts, then follow with a new thought…it’s one of the most powerful trust-builders. This just doesn’t work very well with the written word. Don’t do it.

Okay, you’ve attracted a reader. Fact: you won’t keep their attention very long. Bold some text and make some subheadings. Do you have more than 15 minutes? Go find the perfect picture to go with your article.

Nothing works like an effective conclusion to make people do what you want. Here’s how to motivate:

• * End with finality
• * Show clear benefits from your advice
• * Restate yourself for clarity
• * Tell people where to read more
• * Summarize main points
• * Give a direct solution or admit there isn’t one
• * Make a forecast or prediction
• * Use another question, quote, analogy, anecdote, incident or striking example
• * Challenge readers with a direct call to action
• Always leave people wanting more

I’ll confess: Editing IS a craft you can’t learn in 15 minutes. But you *can* learn to get it done in 15 minutes. This whole article is really a checklist. Use it repeatedly. Make it your own.

Some say you can’t trust yourself - that you absolutely must employ someone else with the editing skill. (Some copy editor out there is probably calling me cheap or simple right now.) That doesn’t hurt my feelings. I’m tough like that. Okay, maybe someday I’ll hire one someday.

Maybe you don’t want to or can’t hire an editor right now either. Copy editing is a survival skill, so no excuses. Learn it.

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