Editing: 5 Things to Keep in Mind

It's not like I'm a seasoned editor or something, but recently people often ask me how do we know if a writing is ready to publish. So I will just lay things out here: the checklist I always keep in mind before publishing any article.

1. Is the style consistent?

Well, it would be weird if in the first paragraphs your writing speaks as if it's a college paper, and then at the end it sounds like a lifestyle magazine. Writing's style needs to be consistent, because people will notice inconsistency, even if they only skim the text.

2. Is there any typo, misspell, and grammatical error?

In order to write/edit well, you have to be pedantic. Like, super pedantic. You can't compromise this one. Why? Because only pedantic people have great sensitivity to notice any minor typos, misspells, and grammatical errors.

What if you're not pedantic? Well, there's a feature called spell check and grammar check, guys.

3. Is your writing's main idea clear enough?

Clarity is sooo important. Many writers are good at wordplay, but they are not that good with thinking (sorry), so they have no clarity in their writing. Sometimes writers are just too excited and they try to combine many ideas, facts, and stories, that they end up putting one or two statements that have no relevance with the rest of the writing.

Remember that "Structure" lesson at language class? Sometimes we just need to listen to our language teachers. Main idea, supported by several supporting ideas: that's how writing works, no matter what kind of writing you do. Read and re-read, make sure your audiences get the message.

4. Is the data/information accurate?

If you write about people or about events, then you need to do double recheck on every information you deliver. Is it true that Jack is the CEO of Y company? What if he already resigns? What if he's the founder, but not the CEO (yes, lads, there are many founders who don't lead their own company)? Never assume, do double recheck.

If you're familiar with qualitative research, then you may want to Google "triangulation method". It's a method useful for both researchers and writers.

5. Is the headline catchy enough?

Well, unless you write for academic purposes or only for yourself--and not for certain audiences--you should realize that normal people do take a look at headlines/titles (and also at the first few paragraphs). That is why your title needs to be captivating. People already have shorter attention span these days: don't lose more audiences just because your titles are crappy.

If you have another checklist in mind, please do comment below. :D

3 Go-To Blogs for Creativity

Sometimes we just run out of ideas or inspiration. It's about time that creativity needs its fuel. Here's 3 blogs / online medias I always go to every time I feel dull:

1. The Great Discontent

The best way to learn is to learn from people. And so I can't help reading TGD at least once every 2 weeks, to learn how these artists, writer, entrepreneurs, and creators began their journey and struggled along the way. So helpful to make you feel good about yourself ('cause they're humans too, just like you).

2. Brain Pickings

The explanation says it all: A library of cross-disciplinary interestingness and combinatorial creativity. When I first encountered Maria Popova's writing, I fell in love with the way she synthesize old works and make it timelessly relevant. Her curation is top-notch, and I can say her articles shape my thinking up until now.

3. Inc.

Inc. may be a business magazine, but they do many good coverages on entrepreneurs starting up, and entrepreneurs are creative persons too. I really like Inc's How I Did It column, that allows you to understand what's inside the great minds.

That's from me. What about you? Share your favorite creativity blogs at the comment section below! :)

An Essence of Life, A Life of Essence

Some random Instagram account that constantly posts inspirational quotes--both cliche and not cliche--captivated me several nights ago with a quote it posted.

I forget exactly what the quote was, but basically it said that there are two biggest challenges in life:

1. To find out about who you really are

2. To be happy about it

There are so many people growing up, and even growing old, without ever knowing what is their role in this world; how they can make even tiniest contribution by utilizing their strength and passion; what is their calling, basically.

And somehow it's not all their fault. It's the fault of the whole system of society--including schools and family as institutions--that doesn't encourage critical thinking, doesn't encourage self-reflection, doesn't teach people to ask and keep asking, of what they can best do to maximize the utilization of their existence on Earth.

But with the emerging movement of "finding your passion/calling" from so-called motivators and spiritual coaches all over the world, challenge no. 1 above may soon be solved. With the resources available everywhere, our generation--Millennials--most likely will be thinking more often about finding who they're really meant to be.

But now, here comes challenge no. 2. If you've found out who you really are, will you be happy about it?

If you're like me, who have spent the first 20 years of her life figuring out herself and then finally found that to write and to speak ideas to the world is her calling, will you be happy about it? Will you be happy that to write means to have low-paying job, when your friends go to management trainee of management consulting companies and they get 5 times higher pay with the same long hours?

Will you be happy when you know the thing you're meant to do requires you to have a high-level of ignorance of how society perceives you?

"Crappy job."

"You can do better."

"Just quit and work with me."

And this is what happens to many people in the world, who have found, that their calling is not something commonly well-received by society's ideal standards. And lucky me, because 1) I have no money issue, I can do things I'm passionate about without really thinking about making a living, and 2) I am capable of envisioning and (hopefully) executing a life roadmap that will take me to a higher life from time to time, without losing my calling.

But not all people are as lucky as I am. There are those who need to make a living. There are who have no vision, those who think that a whole view of their future is projected by what they're doing now (in other words, if now you have low-paying job, then you will, forever). That is why people tend to take the easiest way in present time. Because even though both the easy and hard way do not guarantee a better future, the present time can be controlled (and choosing a higher paid job for present time seems reasonable, most of the time).

How do you feel when you've found the essence of your life, but you're incapable of crafting a life of essence?

Whose to blame, then?