Staring at a manuscript, feeling like you’ve read it a hundred times and still missing errors? I know that frustration! In this video, I share a simple yet powerful technique to unlock fresh perspectives and catch those sneaky mistakes you might be overlooking. It’s a game-changer for bringing clarity to your work!
“I’m ready to revise, but I can’t. I’ve read that thing so many times. I could recite entire passages to you. I can’t bear the thought of reading it one more time. I know I’ll never catch anything else. What do I do?”
It’s a good question, and the answer is read it aloud. This is a tried and true approach, and in fact, in my book, Beat the Bots, the Grammar Girl, Mignon Fogarty, says that it’s a crucial part of her editing process. You know, you’ll have a hard copy in your hand.
That’s how I do it.
I suppose you could have it on your computer as well while you’re reading it aloud.
But I work with a hard copy and a red pen so that if when I catch something a typo, awkward phrasing, my tongue stumbling over the sentence, I’ll just make a note. Sometimes an X, sometimes I’ll circle it.
In other words, I’m not gonna correct it then because I believe in separating out the creative process from the writing process. I think you’ll find this helpful. If you try it, do put a comment in. I’d love to know. I read ’em all.
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*Transcripts are software-generated. To report any transcription errors, please use my contact form!
