Post-Writing Quality Control Checklist

• Set the thing aside and let it sit for least an hour
• Read it again and flag stumbling spots
• Break up paragraphs to increase pace (variety is the spice of life). Go with short graphs first, then vary the amount of lines from 3-5. Sprinkle in some one line paragraphs, if possible.
• Break long sentences into two simple, shorter ones
• Eliminate extra words
• Eliminate “thats"
• Eliminate words with “tion” “sion” “ance” “ate” “able” “ment”
• Eliminate excessive adjectives
• Eliminate passive voice (this includes “is” “are” “can” etc.)
• Eliminate cliches
• Make cannot and is not into contractions for conversational tone
• Pay particular attention to commas, making sure they’re right (right for the particular customer, too)
• Make sure bullet lists start with either a “How to” phrase or a number or a powerful verb or…
• Write rhetorical questions into your copy that can be answered in the affirmative (YES!)
• Make sure you have some numbers for impact (specific numbers are better than generalized ones). Keep the % and the numbers themselves. Don’t spell out.
• Proof read on paper and mark it up
• Read it aloud