How to self-edit faster
The key to editorial success.
The world of professional editing isn’t one with many secrets. All the information you need to be an editor is out there and free (just make sure you find a reputable source), but some things seem to have slipped past the eyes of most writers and editors.
And today I want to talk about Word Macros. (Note: these are all made for use with Microsoft Word. Other programmes may have similar features, but they aren’t covered here.)
If you’ve never heard of them before, you’re not alone, but here I’ll give you a quick run through of what they are, why I think more people should use them, and how you can go about finding them.
What are Macros?
Simply put, Word Macros are lines of code with a single command you can add to MS Word. They’re most commonly used by copyeditors and proofreaders, but their utility goes far beyond just those two professions.
Some Macros will do search commands, create reports, or make global changes to a document, while others are made to do small things like change the verb tense of a word, hyphenate a compound word, or convert digits into spelled numbers (1 to one) or vice-versa.
When I first heard about this I thought it sounded a little too techy for me, but thanks to a handful of wonderful people (most notably Paul Beverley), almost any command you could want has been created, ready to be inputted to MS Word by even the most untechy person (me).
Why use them?
Time is the biggest factor. Macros can save you heaps of time when editing your work, removing the need to hit backspace five times to delete a “that” you now think should be a “, which” or open the number pad to add em-dashes. With Macros both of these commands can be done with a single press of a button (key command chosen by you).
They’re also great for research and synonyms, allowing you to click a word, press a key command, and have an instant Google search opened up for the word. Massive time saver.
Removing this extra time from your edit can save you hours on a pass of a novel and give you the freedom to consider other elements of your story in more detail.
If you want to make sure you’ve only used US or UK word variations, you can simply input a command and make a coffee while the Macro works its magic.
How to install Macros
Paul Beverley has a great tutorial on this, which I will link here. They’re free to use and easy to install.
Recommended Macros
These are a few Macros I use in nearly every edit I do and which I think more people should be using. This is a small selection of the available Macros. To see more, check out this document:
Also note that many of these will have a specific utility and won’t be useful in everyday editing tasks, but saving this PDF will ensure you always have the option to add another Macro.
GoogleFetch - This allows you to use a single command to search a word or phrase in a new browser window directly from your Word document. Super useful for checing definitions and synonyms.
Pluralise - Turns the selected word into its plural form.
VerbChanger - Changes the verb ending from “to verb” to “of/for verbing”.
CommentAdd2 - Opens a new comment balloon. (Note: there are other versions of this that may work better for you.)
ThatWhich - Switches between “that” and “, which”.
ParticipleChanger - Toggles between past and present participles.
There are many, many more Macros that you can use in your own editing, but this list is a good place to start.
I encourage you, whether you’re an author, editor, or anybody else, to have a play with Macros. Find the ones that work for you and watch as your editorial passes become better and faster.
Enjoy and happy writing!