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Friday, February 28, 2014

From Your Editor

Secrets to successful online writing
  • Less is more - around 500 words or less, if possible.  Online readers scan - they don't want long sentences or paragraphs that run over 10 lines.  In the column format, a paragraph that might look short in your Word document may appear long online.
  • Simple is better - use as few words as possible to keep your sentences short.
  • Less punctuation (semi-colons, colons, multiple commas).
  • Kick-ass first paragraph to grab the reader's attention right away.  
  • Enhance by using links.  If your article refers to something else that can be found on the web, link it.  Readers like the movement and interest of links.  
  • Lots of white space keeps attention drawn to your writing.

How I think about editing                                                                                                

I imagine that every AAP newsletter editor has taken a different approach to the editing process. I want to share my way of thinking about it with you.  It is my burden and my truth that I am an English fanatic and feel driven to fix misused apostrophes, awkward sentences, and misspelled words.  I was the spelling champion of my grade every single year from first grade all the way through my senior year in high school.  I'm sure I can blame that on my parents, because in my family, the only way to get love was to over-achieve. Despite years of therapy, I am still deeply influenced by that.   

So I will be editing, rather than just collecting, the articles you send.  I do promise to do my best to be respectful in this process. 


Linda Tillman, Your AAP Newsletter Editor    
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