Knowing How to Revise

Posted by qpen on July 23, 2009

To revise you must evaluate. You assess your first (or subsequent) improvements and evaluate each on its own as well as in the context of the surrounding material. The revision process continues until you are satisfied that the work is the best that you can make it in the time available.

Keep in mind that writing, especially through the vehicle of revision, is an engaging intellectual endeavor that encourages you to stretch to the maximum.

To revise successfully you need to first expect to revise. Some people think that anyone who revises is not a good writer. Only the opposite is true. Writing is largely revising. Experienced writers know that the final draft of any writing project shows on paper only a fraction of the decisions made from draft to successive draft.

Revision means “to see again,” to look with fresh eyes. Good writers can truly see their drafts and network them so that they evolve and improve.

To revise successfully you need also to distance yourself from each draft. You need to read your writing with objective eyes. A natural reaction of many writers is to want to hold onto their every word, especially if they had trouble getting started with a draft.

If you ever have such feelings, resist them and work on distancing yourself from the material. Before revising, give yourself some time for that rosy glow of authorial pride to dim a bit.

The classical writer Horace recommended waiting nine years. Given the hectic pace of modern life, you aren’t expected to wait nine years; but do try to wait a few hours before going back to look anew at your work.

If an objective perspective still eludes you, try reading your draft aloud; hearing the material can give you a fresh new sense of content and organization. Another useful method of to read the paragraphs in reverse order, starting with the conclusions; eventually, of course, you must read your work from beginning to end, but to achieve distance you can temporarily depart from that sequence.

So to put this in perspective: revising is part of every writers work habit..it isn’t something to be worried about. Revising will only make you a better writer. Let me help you build your online writing presence. I am totally committed to work with you and guide you with your web writing.

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