Summarize the following:
After you finish a draft, read it with a pencil in your hand, or your finger on the delete button. If you see something that repeats a point you've already made, or wastes the reader's time, delete it. Anything that isn't working to prove the main idea is ineffective wasted space. It's sometimes necessary to eliminate unnecessary sentences, ideas, points, sections, or even paragraphs to make a piece more effective. Make sure your subjects and verbs agree, and replace weak verbs to avoid passive voice. Weak verbs include "is" "was" "be" and "have." Learn to replace weak verbs with more active verbs to make your writing more vigorous.  Instead of writing "A big crowd has been lured downtown," use a stronger verb than "has been." Try, "The festival lured a big crowd downtown," replacing the verb with the stronger "lured." Look for sentences that start with the word "there" for a quick tip to weak verbs. Bad writing is wordy and wastes the reader's time. Good writing is concise, cutting straight to the point. Don't use two words when a single more accurate word is sufficient. Instead of writing "The party was super fun and exciting," write, "The party was thrilling." Any sentence that involves multiple "ands" or semi-colons needs to be cut into more than one sentence. In general, avoid semi-colons and sentences with more than one clause. Does your writing accomplish what you wanted it to accomplish? Does it explain the main idea fully and clearly? If so, you're ready to move on to late concerns. Read over the improved draft and look for misspellings, typos, and punctuation errors. This should be one of the last things you do with a draft before it is finished. Ask a friend or family member to read your writing and ask them for specific feedback by having them tell you what they thought the main idea was, or having them write it at the end of the piece. Did they get it right? If not, keep working to make it more effective.
Cut everything that doesn't move your ideas forward. Replace weak verbs with strong verbs. Eliminate unnecessary words. Look for run-on sentences. Look back at your original purpose and make sure it matches. Proofread last. Get feedback, if possible.