Journalists get the training and practice to be able to do this speedily every day, but it's perhaps not too difficult to learn, and allowing other people to edit and improve your work can help overcome sloppy writing or typos.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Magazine | Citizen journalist: My week

Ms. PROSE: Well, you know, the thing about editing your work is that once - I mean you don't really need someone to edit an entire novel.

NPR: Could You Be the Great American Novelist?