How to self-edit your blog post
If you’re a therapist starting a blog, it’s best to write first, edit later. This gives you a chance to figure out what you want to say before you refine it. And if you’re a perfectionist (like so many therapists are!) then you don’t need an excuse to waste more time.
Even the most experienced writers need to edit their work.
What is editing?
It's a common misconception that editing is simply checking for spelling errors.
That’s exactly what I thought it was when I began blogging and writing fiction.
While editing does involve checking for spelling errors it’s a whole lot more than that. Traditional editing involves scrutinising your work from three different viewpoints. It includes a structural edit, a copy edit and a proofread. For best results, you work through your blog post one step at a time.
Writing your first blog post? Read this post first.
Want a handy checklist that walks you step-by-step through the editing process? Download your FREE copy here.
Structural Edit
In a structural edit you’re looking at the big picture and the readability of the article.
You may be wondering, why should I look at the big picture stuff before I perfect my sentences? That’s a good question! The answer: there is no point rewriting sentences if you're going to move or delete them anyway.
You’re just wasting your time.
In a structural edit, you check that your blog post has a clear beginning, middle and end. It has an opening paragraph that hooks the reader or presents the reader with a problem they want the solution to.
You check for flow, ease of reading and scannability. This means, at a glance does the blog post draw in the reader? Are your paragraphs short with sections of text broken up with headers?
Download your free PDF copy of the self-editing checklist here.
If you need more help structuring your blog post, check out my blog template here.
Copy Edit
In a copy edit, you’re editing the blog post at a sentence-level. Have you used the best possible word or sentence to make your point?
Most therapists undergo extensive studying and training in their profession. We're taught how to write lab reports and scientific articles which can't be more different to a blog post.
While you can refer to scientific data in your blog post, you want it to be readable. Switching from an academic to a conversational tone can take practice.
If there’s a simpler way to say something, then do it.
A blog post requires clarity over cleverness. A blog post is not bound by the rules of a scientific journal.
You can relax.
Opt for shorter sentences and paragraphs over longer ones. You’re meant to read blog posts on-screen, so the text must be readable.
Ensure you vary the length of your paragraphs and don’t be afraid to use one sentence in a paragraph. If a paragraph has more than 6 lines, then it’s best to break it into two.
Download your free PDF copy of the self-editing checklist here.
Tip: If spelling and grammar isn’t your strength, then use a tool like Grammarly or the Hemingway Editor. These help you identify spelling errors and highlight lengthy, complex sentences.
Proofread
Here you cross your t’s and dot your i’s.
Once it’s been through a structural and copy edit, your post may look very different.
You may have deleted words, moved around sentences and shortened paragraphs. During this process, it’s easy to miss simple errors such as a full stop or a missing word.
After completing the first two steps of the editing process, wait a day, and read it aloud all the way through. Then you will pick up any errors you may have missed on your earlier revisions.
When we read an article on screen, we tend to scan the text rather than reading word for word. Print your blog post, to slow down your reading with a more critical eye.
If you’re not yet feeling confident about publishing, get someone else to read it. This may be a friend, colleague or someone you trust to give you honest feedback. You may wish to give them the checklists as a guide in what to look for.
Download your free PDF copy of the self-editing checklist here.
Tip: Still feeling nervous about sharing your blog post? Send it to me and I’ll provide an honest critique to identify the blog post strengths and weaknesses. Learn more about 1:1 mentoring here.
Tip 2: Do another read through of your blog post using the preview function on your blogging platform. This shows you how the blog post will look on screen once published.
Ready to publish?
Self-editing is a simple way to ensure you create quality content for your audience. Every blog post requires a structural edit, copy edit and proofread. This is essential if you want your blog to look professional. The easiest way to do this is to work through your blog post step-by-step.
Download the free PDF version of all three checklists here.
Want to edit a novel? Check out these book recommendations to help you self-edit your novel.
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