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Episode 44: Why Tech Edit?
94 Plays9 months ago
I share my research on the benefits of having your writing tech edited.
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Transcript
Introduction to Tech Editing in Knitting and Crochet
00:00:14
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Welcome to Craft, Design, Edit, Sleep, Repeat. I'm your host, Lisa Conway. Welcome to my world where we try to understand the business of knit and crochet design.
00:00:39
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Welcome back. Today I want to talk to you about why tech editing is so important in your writing.
Benefits of Tech Editing
00:00:49
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And yes, I say writing, not just pattern writing, because I want you to realize that any knitting or crochet related writing you do should be tech edited.
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Patterns should be both tech edited and tested, but tutorials and the handouts for those tutorials or articles for newspapers, magazines, or blog posts should all be tech edited and they should all be edited to make sure that they're clear and effective communication.
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Tech editing plays a vital role in ensuring effective communication and brand reputation management. We'll get into that part a little bit as we go through the steps or the reasons why this is important.
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But first, let's look at what tech editing is.
Accuracy and Precision in Patterns
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Tech editing refers to the process of reviewing and refining content related to any form of technical writing.
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Knitting and crochet, we have, as I've said, patterns, tutorial handouts, blog posts, articles. Any of those should be reviewed for accuracy, clarity, and consistency of information. When looking at writing related to activities such as knitting and tutorial information,
00:02:40
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Clear communication is essential. It provides and ensures that your message reaches the intended audience effectively. So let's look at five reasons why technical editing, tech editing, I'll get there, is important. The first is to provide accuracy and precision.
00:03:07
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Any inaccuracies in content can lean to misunderstandings, confusion, and sometimes somewhat serious consequences.
Simplifying Language for All Skill Levels
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So a tech editor meticulously reviews and fact checks information to ensure that the accuracy and precision is present.
00:03:30
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We look at, as knitting related or crochet related editors, we look at numbers. We make sure that your stitch counts and row counts add up accurately throughout the pattern and that those counts provide the right size and shape. We look at increases and decreases and how those affect the numbers and how those affect the size and shape.
00:04:01
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A tech editor will help eliminate errors, verify technical terms used within the document, and abbreviations, and make sure that they share the appropriate information and or create the desired item. The second thing is looking at clarity and completeness.
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Tech editing focuses on improving the clarity and completeness of each document. A skilled editor can simplify the language or break down complicated ideas and help you use language and effective examples, making the content more accessible to a wider audience.
00:04:53
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Every pattern or article or item that I edit, I consider whether or not it's appropriate for a beginner or an inexperienced knitter.
00:05:09
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Now not all patterns should be aimed entirely at the beginner, but enough information should be provided that if a beginner decides that they want to tackle it, they can find the information they need.
00:05:27
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This comes into making sure that the videos that you've linked, that you actually linked the appropriate video, that the information for that video is properly credited, those kinds of things.
00:05:43
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I ensure that the information is comprehensive and leaves no room for ambiguity or confusion.
Consistency in Style and Terminology
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Even if aimed at a more advanced knitter, you want to make sure all of the information necessary is provided. And I look for those gaps. Number three, we look at consistency and style.
00:06:12
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A tech editor ensures that the content follows a consistent style, tone, and formatting. We look to see that your headers are appropriate for each division and that they're highlighted and formatted the same throughout.
00:06:38
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We look that you use the same abbreviation or the same wording for the same techniques. We look for this to enhance readability and provide a unified experience for your readers, for your users. This will help build trust, and trust is reputation management.
00:07:10
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So it's important that we assist you in providing consistent information and that that information is provided consistent with standards that are being developed throughout the industry.
00:07:27
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Now, standards is a very loose word in knitting and crochet. For example, in crochet, you have the standards of the UK definitions versus the US definitions. And in some languages, the terminology is completely and utterly different than it is in English.
00:07:53
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But needless to say, your tech editor should still make sure that you are consistent with the local standards and where possible with the worldwide standards. But importantly, most importantly, is that your documents are consistent from one to the next.
User-Friendly and Engaging Patterns
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With a style guide, that's highly possible.
00:08:22
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you should make sure that you keep a list of the types of abbreviations that you use, the wording that you want to use. Let's use the example of repeats. Do you give them the total number of repeats after giving the defined tutorial on what the repeat is? Or do you say, now repeat this X times more?
00:08:53
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or X more times. Make sure that your wording stays the same so that as they come up to a repeat, they'll know, okay, I've done this once, I now need it to do this many more times, or I need to do it
00:09:11
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this many times less the one I've already done. Okay, so time's total. It's important that those wording stay the same. And it's helpful if it stays the same from one pattern to the next or one tutorial to the next.
00:09:33
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Okay, consistency and style that will build trust. This leads us to number four, the user experience. It's important to tech editors that we help you enhance your overall knitter or crocheter experience. We want to ensure that the information is easily accessible, is engaging, and is user friendly.
00:10:01
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We want to make sure that what the user is looking for is quick to find and easy to understand. A smooth user experience encourages users to trust your information and return for more.
Impact on Brand and Business
00:10:22
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Patterns or articles that leave the knitter confused or create items that simply aren't right leaves the knitter or crocheter less likely to come back and purchase more. And number five is your professionalism and your reputation.
00:10:47
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With a growing number of independent designers maintaining a professional image and reputation is crucial. By tech editing your writing, we help you ensure that the content is well written, error free, and consistently conveys the intended message.
00:11:16
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We make sure that your patterns are accurate, create the intended item with the intended size and the intended shape.
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This attention to detail not only enhances the overall quality of your content, but it also reflects positively, excuse me, on your brand's commitment to excellence.
Conclusion and Future Episodes
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And every excellent item produced, every excellent pattern, article, tutorial, will encourage your users to come back for more.
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The biggest designers create consistently clean, clear quality patterns. So your tech editor helps you to create those patterns with math that is correct, instructions that make sense, and when followed correctly, will create the expected.
00:12:33
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In the show notes, you're going to find more detailed articles on how to choose a tech editor, how to work with a tech editor for the first time, and more articles on the importance of tech editing.
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But in conclusion today, I'd like to just say tech editing is essential. It helps you to create accurate, clear and reliable content that people come back for over and over and over again.
00:13:10
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We help you keep up with ever changing techniques and skills. We help you to create content that your users will embrace.
00:13:29
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So come back next time when I have the pleasure of talking with Ellie Satnan, a UK-based designer and knitter that uses her skills to support the charity for AIDS Life Cycle. Don't forget to like and subscribe wherever you listen and join the conversation in our Ravelry or Facebook groups.
00:14:01
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For show notes or knit tech editing and related services, please visit my website at arcticedits.com.