To help you self-edit, always read your writing out loud. Wherever you falter during the reading, place a check mark or wavy line and continue reading. Don’t stop. Then, once you’ve finished the reading, go back to the spots you’ve marked. They will usually be the places where your writing needs revision.
Ideally, you should have someone read your writing aloud to you. You’ll be amazed at how differently your writing sounds in another’s voice. Problem areas seem to surface quickly and are easy to recognize. If no one is available to read, however, you might record yourself on tape, then play the recording and listen for hesitancies and inconsistencies in the reading. Once again, if you can allow time before replaying the ...
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