How Editing Is Like Untangling Knots
One thing I enjoy doing... is untangling knots.
I can look at the absolutely tangled, jumbled mess of a necklace’s chain, and with my fingers pull the string this way and that until–voila! The necklace is untangled and returned to full glory so you can wear it proudly again.
Where I untangled a knot...
Just a couple of years ago, a one-time gig employer had a massive floor of costumes and a necklace she irritatedly swore up and down “had been tangled for ten years.” No less than seven minutes later, the necklace was gleaming in the light, dangling from my finger completely untangled. Her jaw dropped. “Do you mind if I bring you back to my house to fix the rest of my necklaces?”
How editing is like untangling knots
It looks at the big picture while also diving into the details to make sure everything is aligned and correct in your content. Editing takes what’s there, makes a few adjustments, offers suggestions, and smooths out the errors. In the end, you have your beautiful, compelling, and kink-free content ready to be presented to the world. And you'll feel pretty confident putting it out there too, knowing that it's exactly how it's meant to show up!
Just like untangling a necklace or a knot, editing is a precise art.
I just love taking a piece of writing and making it truly sing by untangling the knots, smoothing the clunky language, and polishing it up. I can get lost in the best way while working with words. Honing in on the message, stripping away the unnecessary, and correcting any unsightly spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors… All while maintaining your true voice and making sure the message shines through without any discrediting or unprofessional distractions.
And sometimes while untangling something, you have to work with what you can hardly see... And that's where my intuitive skills come in to help fill the gaps between what's not on the page and what should (or shouldn't) be.
Untangling text is my specialty.
Many of my previous colleagues and employers can attest to my work. A few keep me on speed dial for when they need a final proof since they know I deliver impeccable editorial feedback time and time again. Like the lady whose necklace I fixed, they wanted to keep me on standby for their projects that need editing. I’m honored to be their go-to proofreading person, and I love having ongoing relationships with clients so I can get to know their style and make it easier to spot and smooth out the knots as we work together.
It's such a delight when I get a message that says, "Hey Mikael, can you proofread this for me please?" Because that tells me that they trust me, love my feedback, and value my contribution to their work–and that's the best feeling in the world.
Plus, the clarifying process of editing and proofreading is my absolute favorite way to help people. It's within my zone of genius, and I'm stoked to offer my skills in this way... It's one of the core reasons The Intuitive Editor was born!
Do you need an eagle-eyed proofreader or insightful editor to help untangle the knots of your content or your book?
Be sure to investigate my editorial services here!