My Five Favorite Editing Hacks

Recap of "From Hot Mess to Chef's Kiss: Edit Your Poetry for Sharpness and Surprise"

Thanks to everyone who attended "From Hot Mess to Chef's Kiss: Edit Your Poetry for Sharpness and Surprise.” Below is the recap of five craft moves that will transform your writing.

1. Replace Expected Language.

When you’re revising, look at any line that doesn’t feel strong and circle the most expected language. Replace it with something more surprising.

2. Odd Sock.

When writing a list, establish a pattern. Make the first two things expected, but specific. Make the third thing unexpected, breaking the pattern and adding a new kind of surprise, tension, or conflict.

3. Move to Metaphor.

When dealing with an abstract concept, translate it into a metaphor that the reader can experience. Pair it with something sensory and specific for maximum impact.

4. Cliché with a Twist.

Take a preexisting cliché and revise it to add a twist. Lean on what readers expect, then subvert those expectations.

5. Make it Smaller.

When dealing with a large concept, try to break it down into the smallest possible part, something tangible that the reader can experience through touch, sight, sound, taste, or smell.

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