1. Editing and Revising Workshop Steps

2. COMPLETE SENTENCES
Read each sentence aloud to be sure it is not a fragment or a run-on because if it is, it will be very difficult to read in an entire paper containing many run-ons squished together without any punctuation to clarify where one thought ends and another begins or even how thoughts are connected, proofreading is really great in this way when you have another person read your work because others often notice what we miss since we have been reading the same words over and over and over again.
Whether that makes sense to you, the above paragraph, that is.

3. COMPLETE SENTENCES
Read each sentence to yourself from the last sentence to the first (reading backwards ) to be sure it is complete and you don’t have any fragments, run-ons, or comma splices.
EXAMPLE of a comma splice:
Brian is tired, he just yawned.
A comma is not strong enough to connect two complete thoughts, so here are three ways to fix comma splices:
1. Brian is tired; he just yawned. (Replace the comma with a semi-colon.)
2. Brian is tired, so he just yawned. (Add a coordinating conjuction.)
3. Brian is tired. He just yawned. (Replace the comma with a period.)

4. Circle/underline/highlight your transitions
Circle/underline/highlight your transitions. If you notice that you are using words (“then,” “after,” “so,” etc.) repeatedly, substitute them for different transitions. Use this SCOPE List of Transitions.

5. Sentence Beginnings
Highlight/underline/circle the beginning of EACH sentence. If you notice you are using “he” or “she” or “then” often when starting a new sentence, vary your sentences with the following techniques:
Add two adjectives before the pronoun:
Original: She listens to me ramble.
Improved: Patient and willing, she listens to me ramble.
Add a prepositional phrase:
After school, she listens to me ramble.
At four in the morning, she listens to me ramble.
Restructure the sentence:
Listening to me ramble is just one of the many ways she demonstrates her patience and understanding.

6. COMMAS
Circle or highlight every comma and be sure it follows one of the major comma rules:
Series of three or more:
Antonio was lean, tall, and frail.
Between two independent clauses in a compound sentence:
I drove to the store, but Joe drove us home.
After a dependent clause in a complex sentence:
While I was walking to the store, I tripped on a rock.
Introductory words/phrases/transitions:
However, Although, Therefore, Next,
In the morning, During the game, Since breakfast,
Non-restrictive appositives:
John, a student in my math class, was out today.
Review each sentence to be sure you didn’t miss any place in your writing that needs a comma.

7. Style!
If you haven’t already done so, draw smiley-faces next to all uses of the smiley-face tricks   
Add more  tricks to give your writing more personality.

8. Dead Language Eliminate all DEAD LANGUAGE.
Read through your paper, replacing your dull words with LIVELY vocabulary!
Use the “Dead Language”/”Other Words for ‘Said’” sheet and a thesaurus for this step.

9. SYNONYMS FOR “SAID”:
accused gulped pointed out smirked acknowledged coaxed gurgled pondered snapped added commanded praised snarled addressed commented hinted prayed sneered admitted complained hissed proclaimed advised conceded hollered promised snickered affirmed concluded hypothesized proposed agreed confessed protested announced confided imitated put in snorted answered congratulated implied puzzled sobbed approved continued informed speculated argued convinced inquired spoke asked corrected insisted queried sputtered asserted interjected questioned squeaked assured cried interrupted quipped stammered avowed quoted started crowed jeered stated babbled jested ranted stormed barked dared joked reasoned stuttered bawled decided reassured suggested beamed declared laughed recalled surmised began demanded lied reckoned taunted begged denied lisped related teased bellowed described remarked tempted bet disagreed maintained remembered tested disclosed marveled reminded theorized blurted divulged mentioned repeated threatened boasted doubted mimicked replied told boomed moaned reported trilled bragged mumbled requested urged broke in echoed murmured responded uttered bubbled ended mused retorted volunteered exclaimed muttered revealed vowed burst out explained roared called finished nagged wailed cautioned fretted nodded sang warned chatted noted sassed went on chattered gasped objected screamed wept cheered gibed observed scoffed whimpered chided giggled offered scolded whined chimed in greeted ordered shot whispered choked groaned shouted wondered chortled growled panted shrieked worried chorused grunted piped shrilled chuckled grumbled pleaded sighed yawned claimed guessed pled smiled

10. Dialogue Put a check mark next to any dialogue.
Whenever a new person is speaking, his or her dialogue should be indented as a new paragraph.
Use the “Rules for Punctuating Dialogue” sheet to check that you punctuated all your dialogue correctly.

11. Be Concise
Even though you are expanding certain moments and using detail, your goal in this narrative is to create characters and tell their stories in a short form.
In the same way you wrote your 6-word or 54/55 word story, trim unnecessary descriptions or areas where you are rambling on.
EXAMPLE: If a character’s morning routine does not reveal the character’s personality or is not important to the plot, you do not have to describe it.