I've said this before, and I'll likely say it again. As a freelance writer, and any kind of writer in general, really, getting too acquainted with your work is a dangerously slippery slope. After spending a lot of time with one article or project, you're likely to begin gaining familiarity with the natural cadence of the writing, the style of your voice, and, unfortunately, the same familiarity with the grammar issues and true readability of your work. Handing in a project that you've neglected to fully edit doesn't bode well for a future contract with the client or even a decent reference later on. Here's a few of my tried and true tips to avoid under editing your work.
Stop Writing...Okay, Start Writing Again
The reason you aren't catching your mistakes is easy to understand. Training your brain to notice those mistakes is more difficult. Start by doing the simplest of tasks. Get up, shut your computer, and do something else. If you can, try a totally mindless activity so that when you return to your work like I am at
https://writingsessay.com/ , you won't be tired or bored. I like to do some light cleaning, prep for dinner, or work on a sewing project while I let my brain settle.
There will be days, however, when you are way too busy to stop and leave your desk every time you are bored. This is where having several projects going on at once can help. As a freelance author, I love having a few irons in the fire. With several projects going on at once, I can take a break from writing about technical topics and have some fun with fluffy and fun pieces about weddings and babies.
Phone a Friend
A person doesn't have to be a literary genius to recognize when something doesn't sound right. Running your work by a friend who likes to read or even dabbles in writing themselves is a great way to screen for problems with flow or accuracy. I recommend networking enough so that you've got a few people on deck for when you really need to run a project by someone.
When it Comes to Writing, Remembering The Basics Counts
For many of us, we've neglected reading a grammar book for years and don't even know where to start when editing. So, first things first, read a damn grammar book. I don't mean sit down and burn through it cover to cover, but spend some real time refreshing your memory. Sometimes all it takes is a quick lesson to get acquainted again with the rules. I have several books, but my favorite writing books are those small enough to carry with me. That way, I can check myself on the go without having to lug around a five pound hard cover.
After getting back to the basics, take the time to review your work one item at a time. You can start by only focusing on commas, then moving to verb usage, and accuracy. Finally verify that your project reads well and doesn't need anymore tweaking. Soon, you'll be able to do all of these things at once. Sure, you'll likely slide back into the dangerous world of gross familiarity more than once, but you can stay vigilant! Happy Writing!
