When editing a manuscript, one should always be looking at ways to tighten the writing and language used. There are many tricks that one can employ. One of my favorite ways is to do what is known as a "Was" edit.

This editing technique is incredibly simple. Search for every instance of is/are/was/were and ask yourself if can you reword that sentence to remove that instance of was-type words.

When I critique and edit writing, there is one common flaw that comes through time and time again. Sometimes, it's subtle and easily overlooked. But then there are times when it hits you in the face.

I'm talking about he said — she said.

You're staring at a manuscript that you have spent countless hours, days, weeks, preparing for publication or submission. It's as stellar as you can make it. Or is it?

Here is just one of the tricks that I occasionally pull out of my hat when editing. It can be slow going, but it can help you isolate those awkward, sticky sentences and eliminate those beasts.

During a backwards edit, you read a manuscript from the last sentence backwards to the first. When you do this, you're unable to focus on the story; sentences lose their contextual meaning. As a consequence you focus entirely on the words.