by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

God had to change my mind about editing. I used to think of it as an overwhelming process with almost no end in sight. Now I think of it as a treasure hunt. I may be looking for grammatical mistakes and typos—not exactly treasures. But there can be joy even in fixing what’s wrong and seeing what’s right. 

When we edit, we realize what works and what doesn’t. And it’s okay to see what doesn’t work. Because finding it and tweaking it will make our writing that much more enjoyable for our readers. And effective. 

So get out your red pen! Or pink one. I tell writers that a red pen is our friend, but if you are “allergic” to red edits, then pink is okay. At least use a color that you can see easily.

Think of yourself as a treasure hunter, looking for what works in your writing and what doesn’t. Put smiley faces next to things you like (my co-editor does that), or put hearts next to things you love (that’s what I use). Make the editing fun by celebrating the good. Make it time well spent by putting question marks by things that may need to change and putting stars next to things that definitely need to change. If needed, step away from editing to give yourself a break, and come back with fresh eyes and a clear mind. 

Tackle These Three Types of Edits

Every piece of writing needs three kinds of edits, and you may do a couple of them more than once. I have a tendency to edit as I go, so I may combine the first two once my writing is finished. Do what works for you. Let’s apply the following kinds of edits to Bible-based writing, i.e., Bible studies, Christian living, and devotions.  

1. Line-by-Line Edit

This is the normal kind of editing we may think of—the nitty gritty of grammar, punctuation, citations, and formatting. A critique group can be a great help in catching these little (or sometimes big) mistakes. Microsoft Word now has a feature that edits grammar as you type and makes suggestions. 

For Bible-based writing, here are a few questions we can ask as we do a line-by-line edit:

• Is a quotation of Scripture that is longer than three lines in a block quote?
• Are the Bible translations included for all verses? 
• Is the period outside of the parenthesis when giving a Bible reference and translation in running text? For example, “God is love” (1 John 4:8 NKJV). 
• Is the period inside the ending quotation mark when giving a Bible reference and translation in a block quote? 
• Are the citations correct in the end notes, giving the author’s name, book title, publisher information, and page number?
• In a citation for an online dictionary, is the URL of the web page given? (That’s all that’s needed.)

2. Substantive Edit

The substantive edit takes a break from looking at grammar and punctuation to look at the message we are sharing, our content. How is the main point developed? Is the flow of thought understandable? Are the best stories and illustrations included? The best lead-ins and conclusions? 

A critique group that is mindful of content editing is a gem. Group members can help you to know whether your writing makes sense to someone other than the author. They can help you to know if your point comes across as you meant it. Objective feedback is key in making our writing the best it can be. 

For Bible-based writing, we can evaluate our use of Scripture, our explanation of it, and our application.  

• Have I shared just the right passage for my topic? 
• Does my lead-in (like an opening story) perfectly transition into my main point and Scripture?
• Have I explained Scripture just enough—not too much and not too little?
• Is my application sound and related to daily life?
• Does my flow of thought travel in a straight line instead of meandering down rabbit trails?

Put a checkmark next to paragraphs that “pass the test,” and put an arrow by the lines that may need to change. 

3. Proofreading

The final stage of editing appeases our paranoia and builds up our confidence. When we proofread, we look for typos that we may have missed or may have created during the other two kinds of edits.  

When I proofread my first book, I discovered something dire on the copyright page. I had misspelled my last name! It’s kind of normal when someone else misspells my name, but when I do it to myself? I realized I had been typing on the copyright page in a small font and I couldn’t see the mistake. Fortunately, my writing buddy caught it, and we still laugh about it today. 

Use the writer’s guidelines for the publisher or publication you are submitting to, as your guide. The time we take to include the correct formatting and content will show editors that we care both about our writing and their ministry. 

Which of these three edits do you tend to focus on? Which one may need more time? Tell us in the comments below. It’s time to look for some treasure!

Katy Kauffman is an award-winning author, an editor of Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies. She loves connecting with writers and working alongside them in compilations, such as Feed Your Soul with the Word of God, Collection 1 which is a 2020 Selah Awards finalist. She recently started The Lighthouse Connection, a monthly writers’ newsletter including writing tips, inspiration to write, and news of submission opportunities.

In addition to online magazines, Katy’s writing can be found at CBN.com, thoughts-about-God.com, and three blogs on writing. She loves to spend time with family and friends, take acrylic painting classes online, and do yard work in the morning sun. Connect with her at her blog, Winning the Victory, and on Facebook and Twitter.