How to Revise Your Sentences like an Editor

The Path to Powerful Prose is a line editing & copyediting checklist that will guide you through the necessary revision techniques step by step. 

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If you've ever felt confused about what to edit now, this checklist will give you a clear plan. 

At the end of the checklist, you'll also find a list of recommended articles, videos, and books to help you get more out of each step.

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Once you follow the steps in this self-edit checklist, your prose will go from this:

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JArred nodded and squeezed Victor’s shoulder. “It’s only one round, Vic. You’ll win the next one.”

Victor let out a breath. Even with zero points in thos round, they weren’t too far behind. He and Visia could still make up for it in the last round.

“Perhaps this was it,” he whispered to Levena. “This was the bait, and I didn’t take it. He can’t arrest me or ruin me in public without cause.”

Levena stayed quiet.

FOrced to sit out the round, he watched the Warriors from the other breeders. It did irk him. Those Warriors were all fierce and competent, but he just knew they could never compete with his.

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To this:

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Jarred squeezed Victor’s shoulder. “It’s only one round, Vic. You’ll win the next one.”

Victor hummed. Even with zero points in this round, they weren’t too far behind. He and Visia could still make the difference. He glanced over his shoulder until Jarred was out of earshot.

“Perhaps this was it,” he whispered to Levena. “This was the bait, and I didn’t take it. He can’t arrest me or ruin me in public without cause.”

She didn’t answer him.

He leaned against the balustrade, eyes locked on the sky. Rowley’s Warriors flew their first formation: two by two, twisting through the cones, weaving up and down through the balustrades, then taking a sharp 180-degree turn. They never once broke formation, but the left-front Warrior did tip a cone with its wing.

Vincent grimaced. By the Flame, his own team would’ve obliterated the competition.