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A More Positive Twist on Self-editing

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

How do you feel about proofreading, editing, and revising the materials you've written? 

I know many who dislike it to such an extreme that they don't do it - much to their detriment.

  • One mis-used word can leave you looking silly. 
  • One garbled sentence can cause your readers to shake their heads in puzzlement and wander away. 

So, since you really do need to do this task, why not look at it from another angle. Why not think of it as an opportunity to go from good to better - to really great?

Why not decide to enjoy it, as this author does...petunias

"Revision is one of the true pleasures of writing.
I love the flowers of afterthought."
--Bernard Malamud 

Doesn't "the flowers of afterthought" have a nice ring? 

How many of those flowers can you grow in your next blog post or marketing message? 

(And while you're at it, how many weeds can you pull? :-)

 

Comments(13)

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Tom White
Franklin Homes Realty LLC (615) 495-0752 or www.FranklinHomesRealty.com - Franklin, TN
Franklin Homes Realty LLC, Franklin TN

Recently I sent an e-mail to an AR friend who inadvertently used the word "bare" instead of "bear". As you can imagine it totally changed the meaning of the sentence! Proofing is always an excellent idea! "Flowers of afterthought" does sound pretty cool

Sep 17, 2014 10:33 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Tom White - Hmmm... "Please bare with me" might have some interesting connotations. I've also seen instances of waist for waste, and heal for heel. Sometimes I think they're using voice recognition software and just don't go back to proofread. 

I thought the flowers sounded pretty cool - which is why I had to share. 

Sep 17, 2014 11:09 AM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

That is a really positive way to look at it.. I love the phrase "flowers of afterthought".

Sep 17, 2014 11:22 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Marte- I'm getting better (although not perfect) at proofreading and editing.  I'm trying to eliminate using so many words when just a few will do.

Sep 17, 2014 11:38 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Marte. What a great way to look at improving your style and your  posts. Weeding isn't fun, but pruning helps beautify the garden

Sep 17, 2014 11:27 PM
Broker Patty Da Silva Da Silva
Green Realty Properties® - 954-667-7253 - Cooper City, FL
Top Listing Broker

Another great reminder Marte. Thanks for sharing, have a wonderful day!

Sep 18, 2014 01:32 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Judi - that really caught my eye, too.

Kathy - It's a complete turn-around from being kids in school and needing to pad the writing to meet some arbitrary word count. 

Sheila - Proving once again that I'm strange - I actually enjoy weeding, even in the garden. 

Patty - Thanks. And a wonderful day to you as well. 

Sep 18, 2014 01:36 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Marte, weeding is not fun but so necessary, of course you enjoy weeding. Thanks for the reminder!

Sep 19, 2014 11:37 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Marte~ When it comes to my blog posts, I'm not very good about proofreading. It's hit or miss. With the written word or something that I'm sending specifically to a client, I will.

When I do proofread my blog posts, I do sometimes surprise myself with better words to share my message. I know there are flowers to be found!

Sep 19, 2014 01:27 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Beth - I especially enjoy weeding out in the garden, where I can get down, sit in the dirt, and just "be real."

Donna - Sometimes those new flowers that sprout are really, really good ones. 

Sep 19, 2014 02:56 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Marte,

What an excellent reminder to us all that we need to prune and weed our gardens of writing. I love your quote by Bernard Malamud: "Revision is one of the true pleasures of writing. I love the flowers of afterthought." I'm much better at editing and proofreading than I was..not perfect but actually enjoy the process.

Sep 19, 2014 08:51 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Weeding is therapeutic.  Plenty of flowers in my garden.  If it's possible to over proofread, that would be me, LOL.

Sep 20, 2014 05:12 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Dorie - It does feel good to keep refining until it looks just right. 

Sharon - It's probably not possible to over proofread! 

Sep 20, 2014 05:20 AM
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