Writing Tasks and ADHD: Editing Tricks

These tricks are actually very likely to help anyone in the final phases of editing and polishing a piece of writing.  These tricks have helped me miss fewer mistakes and rely less on others to get my own editing done - of course, I do still miss a few things here and there, but who doesn't?

1. Read your finished piece out loud (even if no one else is in the room).
2. Read your finished piece backwards.  I know it sounds weird, but it slows down your brain so it really focuses on each word and the punctuation.
3. Focus on editing for one thing at a time:  Look for punctuation problems in one read through, spelling in another and flow in another.  If you catch something you weren't looking for, circle it, move on and actually fix it later.
4. Use your spell and grammar checker in addition to using your brain.
5. Enlist a friend or family member.