Editing a high-quality blog post

As the resident editor at Backslash Creative, I get paid real money to nitpick—an arrangement that works remarkably well for me. Editing isn’t just about catching typos (though yes, I will absolutely notice if you swap “your” and “you’re”). It’s about shaping a piece into something clear, readable, and engaging enough that readers don’t abandon ship after the first paragraph.

Editing is equal parts patience, precision, and occasionally wondering if the writer has ever read their work before hitting submit. Whether editing your own blog post or salvaging someone else’s, here’s how to turn an okay draft into something worth reading.

Step 1: Step away from the document

If you wrote the blog yourself, walk away before editing. No, really. Put some distance between you and your words so you can return with fresh eyes. Otherwise, your brain will trick you into thinking everything makes sense when it doesn’t.

If you’re editing someone else’s work, you don’t need the same break—but you do need to mentally prepare to find some things you wish you hadn’t.

Step 2: Blog flow

Editing is more than fixing grammar. It’s ensuring one thought leads naturally to the next instead of feeling like a collection of disconnected ideas taped together at the last minute.

Here’s what I always check:

• Does the introduction pull the reader in, or does it read like a high school essay? If it starts with “In today’s world…”, it’s getting rewritten.
• Does each section logically build on the last? If I find myself rearranging paragraphs like puzzle pieces, the structure needs work.
• Does it end with an actual conclusion, or does it just stop? If a post trails off like the writer got bored and walked away, I fix it.

Bad flow example

A post about productivity that starts with time-blocking, jumps to general motivation, then randomly discusses the history of to-do lists needs work.

Better flow

Start with why productivity matters, address common distractions, and then introduce time-blocking as a solution.

If I have to scroll up and down multiple times to figure out what’s happening, the flow isn’t working.

Step 3: Fix the clunky stuff

One of my biggest jobs as an editor is ensuring sentences don’t read like a malfunctioning chatbot wrote them.

Things I always fix:

• Sentences that sound like legal disclaimers
• Paragraphs that go on forever
• Sentences that technically make sense but require effort to decode

Example of a readability disaster

“Due to the fact that search engine optimization strategies can provide numerous advantages, it is imperative that blog content creators ascertain their appropriate utilization in order to maximize engagement and enhance discoverability.”

Better

“SEO helps readers find blogs. When done right, it boosts engagement and visibility.”

Shorter, clearer, and far less painful to read is always better.

Step 4: The actual grammar fixes

Yes, grammar matters. But beyond just fixing typos, I check for:

• Passive voice overuse. “The decision was made.” should be “We made the decision.”
• Redundant words. “Due to the fact that” should be “Because”
• Pointless filler phrases. “In my personal opinion…” It’s always personal. That’s how opinions work.

If a sentence doesn’t add value, I cut it.

Example of unnecessary fluff

“This particular strategy is really very effective and actually helps quite a lot.”

Better

“This strategy works.”

Step 5: SEO without sounding like a robot

I’m not our team’s SEO expert, but I know about making blog posts easier to read. Here are a few simple fixes that anyone can apply:

• Use keywords naturally, not “email marketing strategies” in every sentence. That’s keyword stuffing, and it’s a big no-no.
• Break up text with headers and bullet points so search engines (and humans) can skim.
• Link to credible sources—your friend’s Facebook rant does not count.

Example of SEO done wrong

“Email marketing strategies are useful. If you need email marketing strategies, these email marketing strategies will help. Here’s why email marketing strategies matter.”

Better

“A strong email marketing strategy includes automation and personalization to connect with your audience.”

Step 6: Remove the lies and nonsense

I have one rule: if it’s not true, it’s not staying. (Well, I may have other rules.) That means:

• Stats get fact-checked.
• Exaggerations get dialed back.
• Fictional examples get marked as hypothetical, not passed off as genuine.

Example of misleading writing

“One company increased customer retention by 300% by following these tips!”

Better (and honest)

“Imagine a coffee shop that constantly forgets orders. Customers get frustrated, and sales drop. But if they implement a better tracking system, satisfaction improves.”

Step 7: One last read-through

My final step before approving anything for publishing? I’m reading it like I’ve never seen it before.

If I find myself mentally rewriting sentences as I read them, it means they still need work. If I skim over sections because they’re too wordy, they get trimmed.

Good editing should be invisible. A reader should never think, “Wow, this editor saved this piece.” They should just enjoy the blog without realizing how much work went into making it readable.

Why editing matters

Editing is about polishing writing without stripping it of its personality. It’s about clarity, readability, and ensuring a post delivers what it promises. You won’t even notice I was here if I’ve done my job well. But trust me—I was.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have another blog post to fix.