Editing and Polishing

The Editing Mindset

In the previous lesson, we explored finding and maintaining your voice. Now let’s build on that foundation. Writing and editing are different skills. Writing is generative—putting ideas down. Editing is subtractive—removing what doesn’t work.

Most people try to do both at once. They write a sentence, hate it, delete it, try again, get stuck. Progress stalls.

Better approach: Draft fast, edit slow. Separate the two completely.

The Multi-Pass Edit

Don’t try to fix everything in one read. Edit in passes, focusing on one layer at a time:

Pass 1: Structure

• Does the organization make sense?
• Is anything missing? Anything that should be cut?
• Does the flow work?

Pass 2: Clarity

• Is every paragraph clear?
• Are ideas explained well?
• Will readers understand this?

Pass 3: Polish

• Is every sentence strong?
• Are there better word choices?
• Is the rhythm right?

Pass 4: Proofread

• Typos, grammar, punctuation
• Formatting consistency
• Links and references

Why this order? Because fixing a typo in a paragraph you later cut is wasted effort.

Pass 1: Structure Edit

Read through once, focusing only on the big picture.

Questions to ask:

• Does the opening hook readers?
• Is the main point clear?
• Does each section earn its place?
• Is anything repeated or redundant?
• Are transitions smooth?
• Does the ending land?

Common fixes:

• Move sections for better flow
• Cut sections that don’t contribute
• Add missing context
• Strengthen the opening
• Improve transitions between ideas

AI assist:

Review this article structure. Don't edit the text—just evaluate:
1. Does the flow make sense?
2. Is anything missing for the topic?
3. What sections could be cut without losing value?
4. How strong is the opening? The ending?

[Paste your draft]

Pass 2: Clarity Edit

Now focus on paragraph-by-paragraph clarity.

Questions to ask:

• What’s the point of this paragraph?
• Would a reader understand this?
• Is there a simpler way to say this?
• Does this need an example?

Common fixes:

• Simplify complex explanations
• Add examples where abstract
• Break long paragraphs
• Clarify vague statements
• Remove jargon (or define it)

AI assist:

Review these paragraphs for clarity:

[Paste section]

For each unclear passage:
1. Identify what's confusing
2. Suggest a clearer version
3. Note if an example would help

Pass 3: Polish Edit

Sentence-level refinement. This is where voice comes through.

Questions to ask:

• Is this the strongest way to say this?
• Can I cut any words?
• Does the rhythm feel right?
• Is this my voice?

Common fixes:

• Cut unnecessary words
• Replace weak verbs (“is,” “has,” “makes”) with strong ones
• Vary sentence length
• Strengthen the opening of paragraphs
• Eliminate passive voice (when unjustified)

Before/After examples:

Quick check: Before moving on, can you recall the key concept we just covered? Try to explain it in your own words before continuing.

AI assist:

Tighten this paragraph. For each change, explain why:
- Cut unnecessary words
- Replace weak verbs with stronger alternatives
- Improve sentence rhythm

[Paste paragraph]

Pass 4: Proofread

The final polish. Read slowly, looking for errors.

Check for:

• Spelling and typos
• Grammar mistakes
• Punctuation consistency
• Formatting (headers, bold, lists)
• Working links
• Consistent style (serial comma, capitalization)

Tips:

• Read aloud—you’ll catch more errors
• Read backwards (sentence by sentence) to break pattern recognition
• Print it out—different medium catches different errors
• Sleep on it—fresh eyes see more

AI assist:

Proofread this text. Flag:
- Spelling/typo errors
- Grammar issues
- Punctuation inconsistencies
- Awkward phrasing

[Paste text]

The Cut Ruthlessly Rule

When in doubt, cut.

Signs something should be cut:

• It doesn’t support the main point
• It repeats something already said
• It’s interesting but tangential
• It exists only because you worked hard on it
• Readers could skip it and miss nothing

Kill your darlings. That beautiful sentence that doesn’t fit? Cut it. Save it for another piece.

Editing Checklist

Before publishing:

STRUCTURE
- [ ] Opening hooks the reader
- [ ] Main point is clear early
- [ ] Each section contributes
- [ ] Transitions are smooth
- [ ] Ending is strong

CLARITY
- [ ] No confusing passages
- [ ] Examples where needed
- [ ] No undefined jargon
- [ ] Paragraphs focused

POLISH
- [ ] No unnecessary words
- [ ] Strong verbs
- [ ] Varied rhythm
- [ ] Voice sounds like me

PROOFREAD
- [ ] No typos
- [ ] Grammar correct
- [ ] Formatting consistent
- [ ] Links work

Exercise: Edit This Paragraph

Apply the multi-pass approach to this rough paragraph:

“There are a lot of different ways that you can go about improving your writing skills. One thing that is important to note is that practice is essential. It has been shown by research that people who write more tend to get better at writing over time. In order to improve, you should try to write something every day, even if it is just a little bit of writing.”

Key Takeaways

• Separate writing and editing—different mental modes
• Edit in passes: structure → clarity → polish → proofread
• Big-picture edits first, details last
• When in doubt, cut
• Use AI for feedback at each pass, but make the final decisions
• Read aloud to catch what eyes miss

Next: multiplying your content through repurposing.

Up next: In the next lesson, we’ll dive into Repurposing: One Piece, Many Formats.