Writing to Win With Nick Guinn: The Art of Ruthless Editing

The writing process does not end when you type the last word of your first draft. Rather, your writing enters a new phase—editing. While writing is about pouring your thoughts onto the page, editing is about refining those thoughts into a coherent, compelling narrative. Ruthless editing, a step beyond mere proofreading, involves critically evaluating every word, sentence, and paragraph to ensure they serve the piece’s overall purpose. This blog post is about embracing the art of ruthless editing so that you can significantly elevate the quality of your writing. But first, I would like to share my favorite quote about editing (it might be the only quote I know about editing).

“Write drunk; edit sober.” ~ Ernest Hemingway

I am not encouraging anyone to write drunk—or even under the influence. However, I think the broader message is important. That is, put your thoughts down on paper without worrying and focus your critical thinking when editing.

Why Ruthless Editing is Essential

Ruthless editing is the bridge between drafting and final masterpiece. It is where redundancy is eliminated, clarity is enhanced, and arguments are sharpened. The editing process ensures that your writing is not just understood but felt and remembered by your readers. It is about achieving precision and impact, making every element of your writing intentional and powerful.

Embrace the Sculptor’s Mindset

Approach your draft as a sculptor approaches a block of marble, ready to chisel away anything that does not contribute to the final masterpiece. Editing ruthlessly means being willing to cut, reshape, and refine your work. It requires a detachment from the words you initially wrote, allowing you to evaluate the draft with an objective eye. This mindset is crucial for identifying and removing unnecessary fluff that clouds your main points.

Kill Your Darlings

The oft-repeated advice to “kill your darlings” is a cornerstone of ruthless editing. It refers to letting go of any word, sentence, or section you might be fond of if it does not add value to your piece. These “darlings” can be beautifully written passages, clever turns of phrase, or even entire characters in a story that, despite their appeal, detract from the coherence and focus of your writing.

Seek Clarity and Concision

Ruthless editing prioritizes clarity and concision. It involves scrutinizing your work for clarity of thought and expression. Every sentence should be clear and direct, contributing to your argument or narrative. Concision is about expressing your ideas in as few words as necessary, avoiding redundancy and verbosity. This does not mean your writing must be dry or terse. Rather, it should be free of unnecessary complexity.

Maintain Consistency

A key aspect of editing ruthlessly is ensuring consistency throughout your piece. This includes consistency in tone, voice, tense, and perspective. Inconsistencies can confuse readers and weaken your writing’s impact. By maintaining a consistent style, you strengthen your narrative or argument, making your writing more persuasive and engaging.

Be Open to Feedback

Part of editing ruthlessly involves being open to external feedback. Sometimes, we are too close to our work to see its flaws clearly. Feedback from peers, mentors, or editors can provide valuable insights and perspectives. While not all feedback will be applicable, it is essential to consider it critically and incorporate suggestions that align with your vision and goals. For more information about seeking feedback, check out this prior post.

Implement a Structured Approach

Finally, adopt a structured approach to your editing process. Start with high-level structural edits, focusing on organization, flow, and development of ideas. Then move on to sentence-level edits, looking at grammar, punctuation, and word choice. Finally, polish your work with proofreading, ensuring that your piece is free of typos and formatting errors. This structured approach ensures that you address all aspects of your writing, from the overarching structure to the finest details.

Conclusion

Ruthless editing is a disciplined process that transforms good writing into great writing. It requires patience, detachment, and a critical eye, but the rewards are well worth the effort. By embracing the art of ruthless editing, you ensure that your writing is not just seen but felt, understood, and remembered. Remember, great writing is not just written; it is rewritten.