Do-It-Yourself Editing - Book Budget Basics: Go Organic
Larry Belle
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Article Title:
Do-It-Yourself Editing - Book Budget Basics: Go Organic
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Article Description:
Editing your own manuscript isn't difficult, but it
requires time and energy, and the payoff can be enormous.
The following article will help direct you successfully
through the editing process...
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Distribution Date and Time: 2010-01-12 14:15:00
Written By: Larry Belle
Copyright: 2010
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Do-It-Yourself Editing - Book Budget Basics: Go Organic
Copyright (c) 2010 Larry Belle
Penny A Word Editing
http://www.pennyawordediting.webs.com/
Editing your own manuscript isn't difficult, but it requires
time and energy, and the payoff is enormous.
Self Editing Cost? Zero Dollars.
First, you save a ton of money by doing the edit yourself.
Second, even if you end up using a professional editor, fees will
be significantly reduced since your manuscript will be that much
closer to perfect. Do a quick on-line search for do-it-yourself
editing books. You will soon discover they have one weakness in
common: They assume that you already perfectly know grammar,
spelling, and punctuation. Thus, with most of these guides, you
are back to square-one. It doesn't have to be that way.
Go Organic!
Organic Editing is a much simpler, budget-friendly way to improve
your manuscript. Touted as new-age by many, organic editing is a
process that combines the oldest and newest methods of correcting
the written word.
Reading Aloud Is The Key.
In order to do a complete organic edit, there are some basic
requirements. First, find a few friends who are willing to help.
Second, be sure to use a simple spell checker and grammar
program. Many are available on-line for free. Finally, be willing
to read your book out loud to yourself and others several times
(this is the most critical step). The time you spend at this
endeavor is worth its weight in gold. The final product will be a
flowing, tight, virtually error-free document.
Quick-FAQ on Organic Editing.
Do spell checkers and grammar robots work?
Answer: Yes and no. It depends which ones you use. Modern spell
bots are pretty good, but they miss lots of common like-sounding
words; their/there, rose/rows, too/two, etc. By working with a
list of fewer than 100 common sound-alikes, you'll weed out 99
percent of the problem. Grammar checkers are satisfactory
provided you know their limitations. Yes, they are pathetic when
it comes to suggesting corrections, but remarkable in finding
awkward constructions and areas of text where mistakes lurk. Best
to look at underscores, circle questionable passages, then
totally rewrite those particular segments. Again, the key to
organic editing is the "aloud" component, something which is
irreplaceable, and absolutely cannot be done by a robot.
Does Organic Editing make my book perfect?
Answer: No. Nothing will make your book perfect, not even a
professional editor. An organic edit will find many more errors
than the typical self-edit, which goes something like this:
Re-read the document, proof it for grammar and spelling, possibly
have a friend look it over for mistakes. That's that. Easy.
Boring. Ineffective.
Organic editing is an alternative method, as it relies on your
own innate ability to hear things as they should be. Most of us
are much better writers than we think we are. We tend to ignore
our inborn, subconscious language skills. Hearing is the key.
That's why a thorough self edit of your book, resume', term
paper, or business document can generate vast improvement by
reading aloud, as well as listening to someone else read the text
aloud.
Is there a "system" for this style of self editing, which
follows specific steps?
Answer: Yes, a successful organic edit consists of several steps,
which should be done in a specific order. No single facet of this
method is difficult. If you spend time getting to know your
manuscript, you'll be shocked at how much better you can make it
before it goes to press.
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Larry Belle is a freelance editor. He holds an MBA degree,
has worked as a speech/technical writer. His service offers
fast turnaround, low prices, a 5% discount for first-time
authors, and a free 500-word sample edit. Contact:
http://www.pennyawordediting.webs.com/
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