Written by Ken Walker
If there’s one thing our frenetic, fast-paced, always-on world needs, it’s a break. God modeled a sabbath for us in Genesis 2:2; if He needed a break after creating the world, what does that say for everyone else?
This principle isn’t just a prescription for a weary soul; it extends to good editing and writing. I have learned that one of the best ways to improve rough drafts is to take a break. Even if only for a short time, it’s one of the most effective ways to improve it.
Back in the days when I did more article writing than book editing, the way I survived was by writing … a lot.
That meant living with a steady stream of deadlines. I wasn’t too wild about it, but freelancers can’t be too choosy about work. That is, unless the sum offered is so little it’s not worth it.
Balancing multiple projects meant I couldn’t always carve out time to write a story far in advance—too many other deadlines to meet first. Which is why I once sat down to write a cover story for a national magazine just over 24 hours before the deadline.
Slower Pace
Needless to say, I don’t miss that kind of pressure.
When conditions changed, and I had more time between deadlines, I started spacing out my production schedule.
Ideally, I sought to finish the draft of a story two weeks before the due date. After setting it aside for a week, I did a “Read Aloud” with Word.
Having taken a break, the various flaws—missing words, redundant language, or overly wordy phrases—popped out much more easily than they would on a one- or two-day turnaround.
I marveled at how much more clearly I could read the story after a week away. Which is why I took another week-long break.
When I retrieved it on the due date, I again did a Read Aloud and found more miscues, the need to rewrite, or to toss a few words or phrases.
Not only did I feel the article had again moved up a notch in quality, but doing the final revision the day it was due didn’t bother me. Unlike that 24-hour rush on a 2,500-word story years earlier, a brush-up that took only 30 to 60 minutes easily fit into my daily schedule.
Taking a Break
Now that I’m doing more book editing and ghostwriting than articles, the same practice has served me well.
Given the need to keep chapter editing or ghostwriting going at a steady pace, I can’t always follow the two-week route for completing one. Still, I let chapters sit for anywhere from three days to a week before doing revisions.
The final product is always better.
Rest almost seems counterintuitive in an always-on, always-connected world, but it’s part of a sensible approach to editing and writing. Just like it takes time to polish your car, it takes time to make your editorial creations shine.
Ken Walker is a freelance writer and book editor with more than 4,700 article bylines to his credit. He has coauthored, edited, or contributed to more than 100 books. His latest substantive book editing project was released recently and will be followed by a ghostwritten title in late spring.