EDITING YOUR MANUSCRIPT

Good editing means making wise choices. What words should you use? What order do you put them in? There is never a single correct answer.

We have already discussed editing skills in some detail in the Effective Writing: core skills section. Here we remind you of the general principles.

• Take a break before you start editing. Set your first draft aside and do something else before editing it. This will allow you to look at what you've written more independently - as if you hadn't written it.
• Ask for a second opinion. Give your work to a colleague or friend, whose opinion you respect. It's important, however, that you make the final editing choices.