This marks the first blog post for my third graduate-level course, Technical Editing. I have been looking forward to taking this course as editing is something I enjoy doing. As a technical writer currently, I spend a good part of my time peer reviewing the work of my teammates. It is always rewarding to catch little things or mistakes early before they become harder to fix down the line. This actually brings us to the first portion of my blog post.

What did you read or watch that surprised, delighted, or disappointed you? Why?

What resonated with me the most this week was further recognizing the role that editing plays in quality assurance (QA) efforts. In other words, the idea that a good editing process is vital for the quality of a document, manual, guide, book, etc.

It was neat to see how a QA/editing process had helped companies before, saving them time and money and helping them maintain a good, professional reputation.

Besides this, I enjoyed the reminder on the different “levels of edit” and the distinctions that exist between them. There is a substantial difference between a proofread and a developmental edit, which I think a lot some of those in the writing field do not quite understand.

What was most meaningful for your own career goals? Why? (If you cannot easily address your career goals, answer based on your course goals.)

This week’s assignments and lecture honed my editing skills. I plan to take the topics discussed in the book and apply them to my work this upcoming week. I am also looking at how editing might fit into a future career or freelance hobby.