Why a Good Editor in an Invaluable Investment for Your Internet Content

I’m old enough to remember our first internet-enabled computer.  How amazing it was to be able to use a search engine to find information – and to be able to download music from other people’s computers (the days of Napster!). 

The internet has certainly changed our lives – and in continuing to grow and expand, no doubt there are even more changes on the way.

No business, organisation or professional can afford to ignore the need for an online presence.  And this means – writing internet content.  Blogs, eBooks, social media posts, web copy: you name it, the internet has been as important a development for reading and writing as the printing press was.

This means that many of us who never imagined ourselves as writers, will find ourselves publishing our words on the net.  And those who can use words well, have the greatest chance of success in this new age.

But every writer needs a great partner in crime – an editor.  Even popular authors like Stephen King, who has written over 50 novels, still have to work with an editor. Why?  Because it is really hard to edit your own writing. 

As a writer myself I can tell you all the pitfalls of trying to edit your own work.  Quite often, in trying to proofread, I will read over what I have actually written on the page and replace it with what I INTENDED to write on the page. This is the same reason why it can be difficult to determine where structural and expression errors may be.

A good editor works in partnership with the author, to protect and enhance the author’s work.  We work as a team – one looking after the creative side of the equation, and the other polishing the work to ensure the intended message gets across.

A good editor will assist the author with:

• Grammar and spelling checks
• Proofreading for expression errors
• Structure and flow of ideas
• Maintenance of desired tone and message

All this makes a good piece of writing great – and a great piece of writing outstanding.

The best editors are avid readers and writers themselves.  They have a passion for language and a firm knowledge of the audience and purpose of the piece you give them.

You don’t have to just engage an editor after a draft of your piece has been written.  An editor can be a valuable part of the process of working on a longer piece, helping the author stay on track with the project.  It can be refreshing to exchange ideas with someone who has no agenda for the piece other than to help you make it as wonderful as possible.

As an editor, I specialise in articles, blogs and eBooks. It's just another way mypersonalblogger helps you maintain quality content.