Tips on How to Edit Your Own Writing Like a Pro

Send us a text

"Welcome to The Legacy Project Podcast, where we uncover the secrets of compelling storytelling and the art of preserving your life’s journey for future generations. I’m your host, Don Fessenden, and today we’re talking about something every storyteller wrestles with at some point: editing your own writing.

Writing your story is personal, emotional, and often, exhilarating. But editing? That’s where the real craft emerges. It’s like sculpting—a rough block of marble becomes something beautiful only when the excess is chipped away, revealing the art hidden beneath the surface.

I remember the first time I tried to edit one of my own stories. I stared at the words on the page, convinced that every sentence was essential. Every detail felt important. How could I possibly cut any of it? But then, I stepped away for a few days. When I came back, it was like seeing my writing for the first time. Suddenly, I noticed sentences that rambled, details that distracted from the heart of the story, and dialogue that sounded nothing like real conversation. That experience taught me an invaluable lesson: writing is for you; editing is for your reader.

So today, we’re going to walk through the art of editing your own work—from big-picture changes to the tiny tweaks that make sentences sing. If editing feels daunting to you, stick around. By the end of this episode, you’ll have practical, approachable techniques to edit your writing with confidence."

TheLegacyProject.me

Purchase copies of The Legacy Project book at Amazon.com

You can also get a copy of Service Before Self my autobiography at Amazon.com 

"Start writing. Start sharing. Leave your legacy."