I read a good book with useful tips on editing
Cut it Out by Laura Swart
1. Avoiding too many little words that can clutter the main idea: identify content rich words, use sensory words, watch the punctuation, delete pompous and dull words. Combine long luxurious sentences with short punchy ones.
2. Is, have and will: I am, they are, he is or she was, they have been
3. Avoid passive voice: look for "be" and "by"
4. Avoid progressive tense: "ing" unless required by the context. Use simple present and simple past tense.
5. Avoid repetition within paragraphs of key words or phrases
6. Avoid colloquialisms, choppy sentences, overloaded sentences, uncontrolled sentences and fragments.
