Learn to edit words like a pro. I've edited 3M+ words and each week, I share a lesson to teach you what to cut, how to add value, and how to finally feel confident when editing. Every subscriber gets access to my Editing Library, a database of 62 edits broken down by the problem, my take on how to improve it, and my edited version.
🪄Cut the Fluff: What counts as "real" writing?
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Cut the Fluff is a weekly newsletter that will help you become a confident editor. If this was sent to you, subscribe here so you don't miss the next issue. Hey Reader, I let out a long sigh. My wife knows what this means. With a smirk and a hint of sarcasm, she utters, "What has someone done now, love?" She's a Brit, so sarcasm is engrained in her bones. "This guy just made the stupidest comment about 'real' vs. 'fake' writers." "Mmmhmm, tell me more about that," she says in her best therapist voice as she fights to keep her smirk in check. My wife couldn't care less about social media. But she's agreed to support my foray into influencer-dom as long as she can make fun of me when I take it too seriously. Her attitude immediately takes the edge off. But I still need to talk about it. Which, bless her, she lets me do. ------ I explain how this post on my newsfeed caught my attention because it boldly stated: "Good LinkedIn writing ≠Good writing." The author made the (valid) point that just because someone can write a good social post doesn't mean they can write a good long-form article. Fair. However. The post took a turn when he equated content and copywriting as "real" writing that takes "actual work." And implied social writing requires no work or isn't real. Hold up. I come from the world of article writing and ran a content team for four years. But I struggled HARD when I first started on social. It took me months of daily practice to get the hang of it. It didn't matter how practiced I was at stringing cohesive, engaging, value-driven sentences together. For several months at the start, I couldn't stop the scroll on social for my damn life. But zooming out, why are we comparing mediums in the first place?! What good does it do to claim one writing style is harder, more worthy, or more "real" than another? All writing is real writing. All writing is hard writing. All writing is worthwhile writing. The good news is most people know this. This is why long-form writers are flocking to social media to build their personal platforms (my word for personal brand), even though it's hard and awkward. And why traditional copywriters and social writers are taking a stab at long form, even though it's uncomfortable and weird. You'll go further if you can diversify your content. Use social writing to capture attention and build authority. Use long-form writing to build trust and spend more time with readers. And, of course, use editing for both to make sure your words are working exactly as intended. ------ I finished my rant. My wife looked at me and said, with all the sympathy she could muster, "Do you feel better now?" "I do!" I proclaimed. "But I feel like I need to say more on the subject." "Why don't you write about this in your newsletter and get it out of your system?" "That's not a bad idea..." 😉 ------ If you'd like help writing in either short or long form and struggle with:
Then you may want to hop on the waitlist for my Hooks and Editing courses. Over 1000(!) people picked them up last year, and I'm re-releasing them next month. Catch you next Sunday! Erica Want to go deeper on writing and editing? 2 ways I can help:1. Over 250 people grabbed the first release of Content Editing 101​. It's everything I've learned from editing 3M+ words in 6 years. Learn what to cut, how to add value, and how to finally feel confident when writing & editing. Click here to get on the waitlist for the next release of CE101.​ 2. If you want to stop the scroll on social, you need a powerful hook. Over 800 people love this AI collab course I did with Rob Lennon. Get on the waitlist for Hooked on Writing Hooks here. Reply to this email to let me know what you thought of today's issue :) Erica Schneider ​ ​ |
Cut the Fluff
Learn to edit words like a pro. I've edited 3M+ words and each week, I share a lesson to teach you what to cut, how to add value, and how to finally feel confident when editing. Every subscriber gets access to my Editing Library, a database of 62 edits broken down by the problem, my take on how to improve it, and my edited version.
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