RADIO

PACIFICA

Proofreading: Tried & True

For all of us professionals who pic nits and insist we must reinvent entire industries from whole cloth, a quick reminder of how we build written pieces.

By

febbert
Rp

Let’s be real. This is actually three major processes: compose, edit, proofread. Thanks for the ruler on the back of the hand Sister. I get it.

On with the rant. For all of us professionals who pic nits and insist we must reinvent entire industries from whole cloth, a quick reminder of how we build written pieces. I didn’t invent this. Writers and editors did. See E.B. White.

  1. UNCONSTRAINED: ALL PROOFING STARTS AFTER THE FIRST DRAFT. Idea capture should have absolutely no constraints. Capture, think, write, research, write, feel, think, learn, talk, write, write, be inspired, write. Write damnit!
  2. CONVERSATION SURVIVAL: RE-READ FOR MAKING SENSE. If you spoke this out loud, could mom follow it? Can five of your favorite generalist people follow if they read it?
  3. COLD START SURVIVAL: NEW PERSON IN YOUR LIFE, is there sufficient context for them to follow?
  4. EDITORIAL SURVIVAL: IS YOUR EDITOR EXCITED? Is there sufficient relatability, utility, generosity, warmth and wisdom to pass the harsh spotlight of cultural and commercial relevance? Who the hell knows? But have you tried? For professional working papers, is this a compelling read? Remember you have five minutes to hook them. Hmm. Probably only one.
  5. PLEASE NOTE: WE HAVE NOT HIT SPELLING OR GRAMMAR YET
  6. READ THE NEXT DAY: If you have the luxury. If you are a pro, without daily deadlines, then you finished the pieces days before it was due. If you re-write more than a paragraph, let it cook another day. If you must submit today, take the longest break you can tolerate before your last pass.
  7. VERY LAST THING: SPELLING & GRAMMAR. Fix Miss Pellings. Consider repairing Gramma.
  8. EXTRA-CREDIT, aka FULL-BLOWN ACCEPTANCE: Give this to a peer, or four. BETTER? Get into a fierce argument over it. If you don’t stir strong feelings – of agreement or disagreement – you are reciting well-worn concepts. On the other hand, if the work rises to the level that your colleagues would agree to submit to a journal, or a high-stakes client, for publication then you’ve done well. This is also known as a Peer Review.