Use an Online Writing Editor for Best Results
Writers are everywhere. They’re like bookstores and libraries — seemingly on every corner and in most coffee shops. They have their own Meetup groups. They have their own schools and degrees. They are amateur or professional, full-time or part-time, committed or casual. Good writers even have their own websites to advertise their talents. And many writers specialize. Consider:
- Ad writers
- Mystery writers
- Ghost writers
- Novelists
- Blog writers
- Poets
- Journalists
- Grant writers
- Copywriters
- Short story writers
- And more
Some, like the writers at Ray Access, cross boundaries. If you’re looking for a writer for a specific project — whether it’s to write your blog posts, memoir or web page content — you can certainly find one easily enough. But not everyone knows the value of a good editor. And they are much more difficult to find. In fact, many writers don’t even know good editors, especially good online writing editors.
What an Online Writing Editor Does
Editors are an invisible lot. Their names never appear in the byline. Their work doesn’t cry for headlines, even as the headlines in their work bears their influence. So how can you tell if an editor has worked on a piece of writing? What kind of tracks does an editor leave behind?
A good editor does much more than correct grammar and catch typos. When it comes to editing online writing, an editor molds the article to:
- Ensure the lede, especially the first paragraph, captures the readers’ attention and compels them to keep reading
- Cut, cut and cut some more to force the writing to be concise and to the point
- Enhance the flow of thoughts from one to the next
- Strengthen, not change, the writer’s voice
- Place valuable information at the beginning of the article, so readers don’t have to wade through fluff to get to the good stuff
Writers Benefit
Writers understand what an online writing editor does. The best writers seek out editors to work with. They often develop a deep and lasting trust between them. The writer knows that the editor makes changes and suggestions that improve the writing. The editor knows that the writer takes the changes as constructive criticism, even if it appears harsh at first glance.
When a writer works with an editor, they create a team that improves every project they tackle. Edited writing is not just more efficient; it’s more powerful. Because an online writing editor has to know the target audience as much as the writer does, an edited article strikes the right notes to engage its readers.
Editing for an Online Audience
An online writing editor has to handle issues that are specific to writing for an online audience — issues that a book editor may not even consider. People read online content differently than reading something in a printed book; it actually closely mimics how they read newspapers:
- With other content just a click away, online readers shrink their attention span. They want online writing to get to the point quicker.
- The same people who wouldn’t balk at reading a 600-page tome expect a pleasant online format with lots of white space.
- Most online readers don’t read at all, in fact. Instead, they scan for the information they’re seeking. Their eyes flit from the title to each subheading as they search.
So an editor has to ensure that titles are authentic. They have to come up with subheads that are both explanatory and inviting. They have to deliver information in chunks so that it’s not overwhelming. Otherwise, no matter good the writing is, readers may pass it by.
And every article posted online requires the judicious use of keywords. An online writing editor has to know how to best place keywords so that they work and yet are unobtrusive once readers find their way to the article. If you’re a writer, find an editor you can trust. If you’re a reader, thank your writer for using an editor.
Ray Access is a content marketing firm that delivers targeted words to empower your business. Contact us about your specific project to receive a quote or discuss your needs. We write website copy, blog posts, e-newsletters and more. Everything we do is thoroughly researched, professionally edited and guaranteed original.