Persuasive Communication

Of Course I Can Write, Why Do I Need an Editor?

Everyone who writes can make good use of a great editor.

There are lots of us out there who know and appreciate the English language well enough to make our mark. But if “making your mark” isn’t good enough, if the words just won’t flow at the right syncopation, or your meaning is unclear, then maybe what you need is a fresh approach. 

My favorite editor looks at the world in a different way than I most commonly do. And she will invariably point out stumbling blocks of text which trip up that mental voice we hear when we read. I used to try rewriting a sentence to make it smoother, which usually involved rewriting the entire paragraph. And that process often involved restructuring the order of the paragraphs.

But I’m a quick learner. So now, once I get past my resistance, my first reaction is to approach the idea I want to convey from a different perspective. I have taught hundreds of adult college students The Five Paragraph Essay Format, which is, in my opinion, the most efficient and effective way to construct a message to make your point, persuade a change of viewpoint and/or solicit a call to action.

There isn’t enough space in this section to describe it here, so I will include it elsewhere on my site. Just look for the title “Easy Writing? Five Simple Paragraphs Win the Day!.” I will come back to this technique later for more in-depth discussion regarding order of the points to be presented, and what makes a good transition. 

Or, if you’d rather just hire me to craft your message……