How to Be Your Own Best Editor: The Toolkit for Everyone Who Writes

by Barry Tarshis

Explains the process of editing articles, essays, newsletters, business or technical reports, press releases, and term papers

Genres: Reference, Writing

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 1998

Reviews

[J.D. Steens · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book starts out fairly ho-hum, covering the basics. Then it picks up with helpful insights and points of emphasis. Before starting out on a piece or a chapter, Tarshis writes, the writer needs to figure out the angle of attack. This is followed by an editor's eye toward “readability,” looking at clarity of meaning, conciseness (out with irrelevant information or verbiage), flow, and vividness (adding spark, stimulating excitement or at least strong interest). This covers the writing and editing, but these are distinct from the proofreading function. Here, interest and meaning step aside, and the proofreader looks only at typos, noun-verb agreement and such. For proofreading, it helps to read the sentences from the bottom of the page up (to focus on mechanics not meaning) and then to read it aloud. Tarshis’ discussion on redundant adverbs (e.g., “whisper softly”), adjectives ( “tiny speck”), prepositional phrases (“the city of....”); using sentence structure to control emphasis; use of umbrella sentences (or umbrella phrases) to cue the reader where the discussion is going; and adding “signposts” to guide the reader - “proving your point,” (e.g., for example), “adding heat “ (in addition, and, also, better still), and “changing directions” (nevertheless, by contrast, yet, still), was excellent. Tarshis also says to avoid long, introductory, dependent clauses.

At the end of his book, Tarshis’ last sentence is, mysteriously, “Good hunting!” That made no sense at all.

[Linda Judd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sly book, it comes on as a snoozer, and you end up rolling over laughing. I enjoyed embibing his lessons on the ins and outs of editing my writing for myself. This is a must read. Helps you in speaking and describing, and distinguishing how your words reveal what's important. Mr. Tarshis lets you hear what "your" writing voice is saying. His book is technical and witty. His point of view is that of a writer, writing any kind of fiction or non-ficition. This is useful for anything, even job resumes, edit what you write, find the strength of "you" in your words. This is compelling, makes you want to rewrite and revitalize what you wrote.

[Lynn Pribus · Rating 5 out of 5]

A follow-on to HOW TO WRITE LIKE A PRO. These two together are the best I've read on truly effective writing. His basic message: keep the reader with you every minute.