Smart Writing: 6 Steps To Plan Your Blog Like A Pro PART 2

This is part two of our article on structuring and preparing a blog for part one click here. This half of the blog will cover the topics of writing, proofreading/editing and publication.

Step 3: Write

Draft

Now we finally get to the creation of your article. If your research, interviews, and outline were done thoroughly, this shouldn't take too much time, just a matter of plugging in the pieces and bridging the gaps with some opinion, summary statements, and maybe even a joke or two. Once you feel like you’ve compiled something worthwhile, put a period at the end and go to the next step: editing.

Edit

This stage of editing should be done with the writer. Check for spelling errors, grammar, subject-verb agreements, and the like. Have you covered all your bases? Could you say something better? What about run-on sentences? If you have any of those things, go back to the draft stage and make your corrections, then re-edit again. Repeat these steps until you feel it is perfect.

Step 4: Check

Proofread

Now we step into the group-edit portion of your article. This is where your editor checks back in and your proofreader makes their first appearance. The writer has little say in this portion of the process, except to sit back and wait for edits. Editors will be looking to make sure that the piece sticks to the original script, the research is thorough and that there are no loose strings in the article (does it answer all the readers' questions?). Proofreaders should be checking for any grammatical/formatting errors making sure that the research/quotes are factual. Once each of these people have taken a pass over the writing, send it back to the writer for a final re-check.

Step 5: Recheck

Writer

This is the writer's chance to look over the edits of the editor and the proofreader to make sure that their voice is still coming across the way they intended. When you see things on shows about a writer trying to stand up for his/her integrity or for a part to stay in an article, this is the stage where that happens.

Editor

It is important for both the writer and editor to be on the same page as to what the purpose of the article is. Is it to shed light on a subject? Is it to inform the reader of how or where to do something? Is the article meant to expose hard truths? All great writers lean against a great editor and vice-versa. This is each person’s final chance to make sure that the final product fits the scope originally intended and that it is written in a clear voice with a succinct statement. Once the writer and editor have come to a final agreement over the article, it’s only two more stops until you’re finally ready to publish.

Proofreader

Another quick stopover to the proofreader to check any re-edits and do a final once-over on the article for grammar and factuality. The final stop is to the PR department where it will be run through a final battery of tests before publishing.

PR Department

The PR department will check for AP formatting, and conflicts of interest, and that it contains the material that parties interested in what your organization has to say is prevalent. The latter of the two should have been accomplished by the editor, however, the PR department sometimes has insights that the editor may not have. Make sure the PR department is satiated and then get ready to publish.

Step 6: Publish

You’ve done it! Post your article to your site, your blog, or wherever you feel it needs to be posted. Consider alternative places to post like forums, groups, and other social media portals interested in your article’s subject. Your PR department will also make some submissions to various wire services, article depots, and newspaper services. Congratulations! How does it feel to see your name in ink?

Like this article? Check out these blogs:

‍Smart Writing: 6 Steps To Plan Your Blog Like A Pro. PART 1.

‍Crowdsourcing 101: How To Gather Consumer Data And Feedback And Still Be Their Friend.