The five step process I use to edit blog posts, e-books, and webpage copy for online entrepreneurs If you're interested in working with me, drop me a line at ransom@grammarissexy.net. Follow me on Twitter @RansomPatterson

1. my5stepprocess
forediting
writtencontent
By Ransom
Patterson

2. Maybe you’ve always wondered:

3. Howdoyouedit...
✖ Blog posts
✖ E-books
✖ Webpage copy

4. ?

5. I can’t speak for all editors...

6. ...but I can show you...

7. HowIDoit

8. It’sa5StepProcess
3.
Deep Edit
2.
Initial Edits
1.
Background
Research
4.
Feedback
5.
Final
Conversation

9. Let’s break each of these steps
down a bit further...

10. It all starts with...

11. 1.
BackgroundResearch

12. I get to know the client and their
brand by...

13. ✖ Reading their website
✖ Reading their blog (if
they have one)
✖ Asking targeted
questions such as:

14. ✖ What are your goals for this
content?
✖ What’s one thing you wish
you could improve about your
writing?
✖ What’s the desired “next
action” for your audience
after reading this?

15. From there, I move to...

16. 2.
InitialEdits

17. I read through the manuscript to
get an initial impression.

18. I try to read the manuscript as a
member of the client’s audience
would.

19. I correct obvious errors as I find
them, but for the most part I focus
on...

20. Understanding
the author’s message and intentions.

21. Afterthat,
it’stime
for...

22. 3.
DeepEdits

23. I labor over every word, sentence,
and paragraph until it’s perfect.

24. I make note of anything
confusing...

25. ✖ Style
✖ Focus
✖ Purpose
✖ Flow
...AndImakegeneralnotesabout

26. andtheclient
receives...

27. Somethinglikethis:

28. From there, it’s time for...

29. 4.
Feedback

30. I deliver my edits to the client, and
they make note of any questions.

31. We go back and forth until we
reach...

32. AResultwecanbothbeproudof.

33. All that’s left after that is the...

34. 5.
FinalConversation

35. I deliver the final manuscript to the
client, tie up any loose ends, and ask the
client a few questions such as:

36. ✖ What was the best
part of working
with me?
✖ What could I have
done better?
✖ Would you
recommend me to
a friend or
colleague?
✖ Any additional
comments?

37. For good measure, here’s the process one
more time:

38. 5steps
3.
Deep Edit
2.
Initial Edits
1.
Background
Research
4.
Feedback
5.
Final
Conversation

39. Andthat’sallthereistoit,folks.

40. Thanks!
Interested in working
together?
You can contact me at:
@RansomPatterson
ransom@grammarissexy.net

41. Credits
Special thanks to all the people who made and
released these awesome resources for free:
✖ Presentation template by SlidesCarnival
✖ Photographs by Unsplash and via Flickr (corgi
image)