Edit Your Substack Posts, Please

The 9 easiest ways to become a better writer

This post contains some of the juiciest, most salient advice I can give you. This is (I promise) the quickest way to dramatically improve your writing.

The nine techniques I outline here are little miracles. They’re also really easy fixes.

Before we get started, note:

» You should separate macro-editing from micro-editing and proofreading.

• Macro-editing is where you look at what you’re saying: Is it clear? Is it rich? Does it go deep enough into my topic? For narrative, does it have imagery, a narrative arc, and a character arc? This is also called revision. (For more on this, go here.)

• Proofreading is where you look for errors. (For more, go here.)

• Micro-editing is where you uplevel your writing and enhance what many people call “flow” or “sounding good.” This is where you flaunt your stuff.

» Don’t berate yourself

You haven’t proofread yet; typos aren’t a reason to berate yourself. Leave them to the proofreading stage.) Please know that these “errors” don’t make you a “bad writer.” We all do them, but good and great writers know to fix them.

» Use the search tool

If you don’t know or aren’t familiar with it, go here for Windows and here for Mac. Google Docs and Pages also have it. You can do it on a Substack post, by pressing Control + f.

9 ways to make your writing flow

1. Cut adverbs that end in -ly

Adverbs that end in -ly can signal weak verbs and lazy descriptions. As Ezra Pound (or Gertrude Stein—it’s unclear who) said to Ernest Hemingway, “Cut all adverbs and adjectives.”

Why? Because they make writing flabby.

In second grade, we’re taught that adding adjectives and adverbs is a good thing. No! Stop the madness! Your second-grade teacher was 100% wrong.

Typically, adverbs are superfluous.

Example: They completely believed in God.

Revised version: They believed in God.     

It’s like being a little pregnant: Either you believe or you don’t.

When it comes to voice and making sure you’re there and your readers feel like you’re talking to them, adverbs can be handy (“They, like, completely believed in God”), but you want to use them intentionally.

» The fix

1. Type -ly in the search/find box of your document

2. Sit back and watch them light up—for some of you, there will so many adverbs it will feel like a fireworks show

3. Some adverbs will be worth keeping or even necessary (e.g., only), but cut any you wouldn’t fight for or that aren’t expressing the narrator’s voice

Do not try to correct for adverbs (or adjectives) in the drafting stage. It will either slow you way down or paralyze you. As I said, you’re not a “bad writer” for using adverbs and adjectives; you simply attended second grade.

2. Search and & or

Type and in the search box to check wordiness, i.e., instances where you use two words where one will do, e.g.,

Example: In the morning, I desire and want a cup of coffee.

Revised version: In the morning, I want a cup of coffee.

3. Search for there and it

When paired with the verb -to be (were/was, are/is), these words signal weak openings:

Example: There are many reasons why the cat drank the milk.

Revised version: The cat drank the milk for many reasons.

4. Search it, she, he, they

Make sure every pronoun has a clear antecedent (referent/word that it’s referring to):

Example: The birthday party was a success thanks to the entertainment, but it went on a little too long.

Revised version: The birthday party was a success thanks to the entertainment, but the party went on a little too long.

5. Search for prepositional phrases

Phrases that begin with a preposition (e.g., for by, of, to, for, toward, on, at, from, in, with) can lead to wordiness:

Example: In reference to the essay, we should work on it tomorrow.

Revised version: We should work on the essay tomorrow.

6. Search for not only/but also

Not only/but also is mistakenly used as a way to join, but it’s a way to distinguish. The phrase is meant to indicate that the first point is an accepted fact (or obvious), whereas the second point is not. Most sentences require and.

Example: Not only is he the funniest guy I’ve ever met, but he’s also smart. (subjective)

Revised version: He’s the funniest guy I’ve ever met, and he’s smart.

7. Search for interesting, beautiful, ugly, and other evaluative adjectives

Adjectives like interesting and good are evaluative, i.e., they’re empty of meaning. Interesting to you is different than interesting to me. Characters may use evaluative adjectives in dialogue, but they should be used with caution in a third-person novel or a memoir.

Example: The book was interesting.

Revised version: In the book, the author explains that cats can’t digest milk. (Say why it was interesting)

8. Search for very and really

You can speak these words to your friends in the privacy of your own homes but not in the narrative of a third-person novel or a memoir.

Example: The meeting was very important.

Revised version: The meeting was important. (Important implies very.)

9. Search gerund phrases

Gerund phrases (to be + ing) weaken your writing. In the search box, type ing. Look for verbs that use the to be + ing construction. Replace with simple present, past, or future tense of the verb.

Examples: is looking/was seeing

Revised version: looks/saw

You don’t have to do all of these. Play with them. You’ll get to know yourself and your voice as a writer, which is what we mean when we say someone’s writing “sings.”

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